Ear

   Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is usually done to set to reduce the size of large ears and flap-ears. In plastic surgery, flap eared or protruding ear means excessive bending of ears to front side. Generally, the main reason is inadequate developing of bending of ear that has Y shape or its smoothness. Sometimes flap-eared is wrongly as having big ear. However the main reason is that the area on ear that must be bent is sometimes being smooth. Thus ear is being bent to front side by making more angles with head. So, ear is shown more when looking it from front side. Ear aesthetic surgery is made for recovering this problem. In this surgery gristle is rusted by entering from back side of ear and bent shape is given to it with special sutures.

   Persons who are at young ages are operated under general anaesthesia in a well equipped hospital and if they are old enough for local anaesthesia they can be operated under local anaesthesia. Flap eared surgery approximately takes half an hour for each ear. Surgery is made from the back side of earlap and bent lines of ear cartilage are sharpens or slimmed so that it becomes easy to bend them. And then a new shape is given to ears and ear cartilage is pulled through back side. You can go home at the same day you have operation. Ear is kept with bandaged for 3 days. Patients can have shower after opening of bandages. Cynanosis and oedema may be seen in ears after surgery, these effects will be removed in 7-10 days. It is necessary to keep ear away from any hit. In certain cases flap-ear does not occur connaturally or only ear lobe exists. This is called mikrotia. In this situation ear reconstruction aesthetic surgery is made. Generally, ear reconstruction is made by using own tissues of patients or some artificial materials (prosthesis) with them. Growing of ear (%80) is completed until 5-6 ages in an important level. Thus ear aesthetic surgery can be made before children to start school if it is demanded. But it will be necessary to make ear aesthetic surgery under general anaesthesia at these ages. Making the operation at young ages will prevent negative effects that will occur in spirit of children. It is also possible to make ear aesthetic surgery in older ages. In this situation surgery is made with local anaesthesia. Besides, ear surgery (otoplasty) can be made at all ages. Otoplasty surgery can be made with nose aesthetic surgery or separately.

   Different theories were claimed until today about otoplasty or ear aesthetic surgery. Still all surgeons apply different methods. I think that making the operation from back side is more appropriate for hiding the remaining scar . As perichondrium is lifted during operation, cartilage thickens according to new shape of ear during recovery period and shape of ear become constant.