The shape, size and position of the ears significantly affect the overall image. Some defects can visually spoil even a very beautiful face and make it comical. To correct such deficiencies, modern surgical manipulations help, with their help you can give the desired parameters in just one session.
Otoplasty - indications
The operations under consideration are divided into aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. The first group of manipulations is designed to correct the shape and location of the shells. The plasticity of the ears of the second indicated species is a complex surgical intervention that allows the reconstruction of a fully or partially damaged (or absent) hearing organ.
Indications for the procedure:
- the smoothed surface (in front) of the antiflora and the auricle;
- lop-ears;
- an enlarged angle between the back of the head and the shell;
- wrong shape of the ears;
- asymmetry;
- deformation;
- absence (acquired or congenital) of individual sites or the whole auditory organ.
Methods of otoplasty
In modern medicine, two surgical techniques are used: laser and classical (scalpel). Correction of the ears by the first method is considered to be minimally invasive manipulation, therefore it is the most popular among patients. Standard otoplastics is inferior to laser in terms of aesthetics, but in some situations, its implementation is more appropriate. The scalpel technique is indispensable for serious ear defects, the absence of a part or whole shell.
Laser-induced otoplasty
The presented variant of the operation is carried out by means of directed beam radiation. Laser otoplasty is the most accurate, safe and effective way of correcting the shape of the ears. The incisions are thinner and smaller than with classical surgical intervention, so there will be no visible scars. Due to the high temperature of the laser beam, the damaged vessels in the skin immediately coagulate (sealed). This ensures a minimum amount of blood produced during manipulation and prevents infection of the wounds, subsequent inflammations and suppuration.
Otoplasty operation
The standard procedure is performed with a scalpel under general or local (more often) anesthesia. Classical otoplasty of the ears is recommended for significant deformations of the shells, severe injuries or lack of cartilage. Some patients prefer the scalpel technique even with minor defects due to its low cost. Surgical otoplasty produces a similar laser effect, but after it there are more noticeable scars . With the described manipulation, a long rehabilitation period in the hospital is required.
Preparing for otoplasty
On the eve of the operation, it is important to talk with the doctor in detail and tell him as much as possible about his own expectations and the desired results of the procedure. To correct the ears has been successful, you should undergo a thorough examination, which includes a list of tests:
- urine, blood (common);
- biochemistry ;
- blood for syphilis, immunodeficiency and hepatitis.
In addition, instrumental and hardware studies are carried out - fluorography, electrocardiography. If there are no contraindications to the manipulation, the surgeon determines the patient's propensity to allergic reactions to different anesthetic drugs and checks the skin's predisposition to the formation and increase of keloid scars .
When the operation date is selected, the basic training begins:
- For 14 days, stop taking medications that directly or indirectly change the blood's ability to clot.
- Refuse alcohol and cigarettes (temporarily).
- Before the immediate procedure (4 hours or earlier), do not eat or drink.
- Wash your ears and hair thoroughly.
In case of successfully performed manipulation and full satisfaction of the patient with the results obtained, the doctor gives auxiliary recommendations and writes out the holder of the "new" ears. Sometimes you can not achieve the desired aesthetic effect right away. In such situations, repeated otoplasty is required. The final correction is appointed only after the complete healing of the treated tissues and the intergrowth of cartilage.
How do the plastics of the ears?
There are more than 150 types of described operation, a specific type of cut, its width and length is selected by the surgeon individually. The only unpleasant moment that is accompanied by otoplasty is the seams. Wounds that provide access to cartilage must be pulled together by a medical thread, which often causes scarring. Sometimes laser smoothing is required to smooth or completely eliminate them.
Ear lobe plasty
Wearing massive earrings or tunnels leads to stretching, sagging or other deformities of the skin. Correction of the earlobe is also required for its mechanical damage, especially ruptures. Such otoplasty is carried out in 2 stages:
- Excision of excess skin. At this stage, long-standing scars and keloid growths are additionally removed.
- Stapling. The doctor forms the correct outlines and dimensions of the lobe, the edges of the incisions are neatly fastened with a surgical thread.
Ear surgery
This manipulation involves working with the skin, and with a cartilaginous tissue. Depending on the complexity of the diagnosis, otoplasty of the auricles takes from 30 to 120 minutes and is performed under local or general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the back fold of the ear (where it is attached to the head) and gets access to the cartilage. The specialist partially removes or deforms it to give the sink the right dimensions, adjust its position and angle relative to the skull. The incision is neatly sewn, and the corrected ear is pressed with a fixing tight bandage.
Otoplasty - postoperative period
At the end of manipulation, the doctor treats all damaged areas with antiseptic solutions and applies sterile wipes. The tampon impregnated with a special oil composition with disinfecting properties is introduced even into the ear canal to prevent infection and inflammation of the tissues. The bandage after otoplasty helps not only to fix the ears in the correct position, but also to fix the devices with therapeutic solutions.
With very simple operations, the patient can go home after a few hours. If the procedure was complicated, and a person's ears hurt after otoplasty, he is left in the hospital for 1-7 days. During this period, doctors monitor the healing of tissues, regularly make dressings and change sterile napkins, prescribe effective symptomatic therapy.
Otoplasty - rehabilitation period
Recovery lasts about 3 weeks, and complete disappearance of traces of surgery occurs in 4-6 months. Ears after otoplasty can ache and pulsate. To stop the discomfort patient prescribed non-narcotic analgesics, which should be taken up to 2 times a day. Edema after otoplasty disappear on their own for 4-6 weeks.
Tips for quick rehabilitation:
- During the week (minimum), always wear a pressure bandage. It is removed only when changing sterile napkins and medical tampons (1 time in 2-3 days).
- Do not wash your hair for 10-14 days.
- Refuse to exercise for 3 weeks.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
- Do not go to the pool and sauna for 1.5 months.
- Be sure to visit the surgeon after removing the stitches (7-9 days) and six months after the manipulation.
Effects of otoplasty
The quality of the operation, its results and aesthetics completely depend on the professionalism and experience of the doctor. Thanks to the right otoplasty, many people got rid of complexes about the unattractive appearance and stabilized their psychological state, raised self-esteem. If an unskilled doctor has performed the surgery, the consequences can be not only unsatisfactory visually, but also dangerous.
Unsuccessful otoplasty includes the following complications:
- bacterial infection of incisions with subsequent purulent inflammation;
- the appearance of allergic epidermal vesicles;
- formation of large keloid scars;
- intoxication with anesthetic drugs;
- perichondritis (inflammation of the cartilage);
- worsening of the shape of the ears.