If you’re unhappy with the shape of your ears or have torn earlobes, ear surgery can help. Dr. Kayvan Fathimani is a fellowship-trained facial cosmetic surgeon who curates personalized surgical plans to address your cosmetic goals, whether you want to improve the appearance of your ears by making them smaller, reshaping them, moving them closer to your head, or repairing torn earlobes.
Reshape & Repair Your Ears
Ear surgery is performed for two primary reasons — reshaping and repositioning the ear or repairing torn earlobes. The most common type of ear surgery, otoplasty, is performed to improve the appearance of your ears or correct a congenital defect in the ear structure. Meanwhile, an earlobe repair might be performed to reverse the damage caused by years of wearing heavy jewelry or injuries. Ear surgery is usually performed as a simple outpatient procedure with minimal downtime.
Earlobe Repair (Lobuloplasty)
Most earlobe tears are caused by trauma, such as when an earring is pulled out or caught on something. Earlobe tears can also be caused by wearing heavy earrings for several years, which can weaken the soft tissues, making them dangle and look damaged. Earlobe repair, also called lobuloplasty, is a surgical procedure to repair a torn or stretched earlobe.
Earlobe repair is a relatively simple outpatient procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia. The earlobe is numbed with a local anesthetic, and the surgeon makes a small incision, following which the earlobe is repaired using dissolvable stitches. The split ends of the earlobe are essentially stitched together to make them heal into a complete earlobe.
Ear Reshaping (Otoplasty)
Ear reshaping, also known as otoplasty, is a type of cosmetic surgery that can improve the appearance of your ears. This surgery can change your ears’ shape, size, and position. It can also reduce the appearance of large or protruding ears. The primary goal of otoplasty is to improve the appearance of your ears or pin them close to your head.
Ear reshaping is generally performed under local anesthesia with sedation. The surgeon makes a small incision in the back of the ear, following which the ear cartilage is trimmed and modified. The surgeon removes excess skin and cartilage, following which sutures are used to close the incisions in the desired shape. Finally, bandages are placed to stimulate healing.
Ear Surgery: Recovery & Downtime
The recovery process after ear surgery is different for everyone. It will depend on the type of surgery you had, your overall health, and how well you follow your doctor’s instructions. In general, you can expect to feel some pain and discomfort for the first few days after surgery. This is normal, and your doctor will prescribe pain medication to help you manage it. You will also have some bruising and swelling around your incisions, which will gradually dissipate over the next week or two.
During your recovery, you must rest as much as possible and avoid strenuous activity. You should also avoid getting the incisions wet, so showering may be difficult. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for your incisions. It’s important to avoid flying or altitude changes for at least two weeks after surgery, as this can cause increased swelling. Most people take 1-2 weeks off work or school, but you may need to take more time off if you have a physically demanding job.
Schedule Your Consultation
Dr. Kayvan Fathimani is a triple-board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and fellowship-trained facial cosmetic surgeon. He takes the time to understand your aesthetic goals and concerns, review your medical history, and curate personalized treatment plans to address your unique goals. He ensures your treatment is safe and comfortable and that you feel supported through every stage of the surgical journey. Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Fathimani to explore your ear surgery options.
