Otoplasty Surgery in Overland Park
Regain your confidence through surgical otoplasty, or ear pinning.
Prominent ears is a common occurrence that many times causes undo stress and self-consciousness. Nearly always, this is due to wayward congenital development of the external ear and is many times seen in parents or siblings.
Early intervention of prominent or misshapen ears with non-surgical molding may help the external ear align more with norms, but if this is not attempted and successful very early in one’s life then surgical otoplasty is the only option to address external ear deformity.
Surgical otoplasty involves creating or accentuating the natural folds and curves of the ear, reducing or repositioning the cartilage of the ear, or both. In the majority of cases, both the folds and the cartilage pinning need to be addressed. This typically involves an incision made on the back of the ear in the natural crease next to the head and then folding the ear cartilage and/or removing some cartilage before pinning the ear closer to the head.
Who is a good candidate for otoplasty?
- Baseline health status is good
- Does not smoke or use nicotine products for at least 1 month before and after surgery
- Has not recently had other ear surgery
- Has realistic expectations of the outcome
31 year old female underwent bilateral otoplasty in office under local anesthesia. Photos were taken immediately post-op.
Otoplasty Recovery Timeline
Recovery is an important part of achieving optimal results. Most patients experience manageable swelling and bruising that resolve over time.
First Few Days
- Everyone goes home/hotel after the procedure, don’t get hospitalized
- Head band worn low over the tops of the ears around the clock for the first week
- Cool packs applied to the ears/face for first 2-3 days aids with swelling
- Get up and move around gently, blood circulation is good for healing
- Perform excellent wound care per provided instructions
- Sleep on your back in an elevated position
- Swelling and bruising will increase up to about day 3 or 4 and then will decrease
Days 7–14
Weeks 14–28
- OK to start light/moderate exercise again
- OK to resume all regular medications and supplements after 2 weeks
- Swelling is way, way down now
- Typically ready to start socializing again in the second week
Frequently Asked Questions About Otoplasty Surgery
What is the cost of otoplasty?
A full price list of procedures is available here.
What kind of anesthesia is used for otoplasty?
Otoplasty can be performed under just local anesthesia with or without oral sedation in the office. If desired, or necessary, it can also be performed under sedation in the operating room.
Where are the incisions?
Hidden in the natural crease on the back of the ear next to the scalp.
Is it painful?
Not much. The external ears can ache a little for a few weeks. Typically the discomfort is easily controlled with anti-inflammatories, Tylenol and ice packs.
What is the downtime like after otoplasty surgery?
For the first week, you should only engage in walking as exercise and physical activity. In the second week, a slight return to more vigorous physical activity can occur without heavy straining. Usually, people are socially presentable in the second or third week.