Ear Surgery

What is Ear Surgery?

Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the shape, position or proportion of the ear. It can be used to correct a defect that has been present since birth, or it can treat ears that have become misshapen due to an injury.

Dr. Farzaneh offers two distinct types of ear surgery, depending on the cosmetic issues you’d like to address:

Ear Pinning

Used to correct large or protruding ears, ear pinning involves setting prominent ears back closer to the head. It is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia, and it delivers immediate results that can have a dramatic impact on your self-esteem. During surgery, Dr. Farzaneh can also decrease the size of your ear by removing or molding the existing cartilage, creating a more pleasing and natural ear shape that is more proportionate to the rest of your facial features.

Torn Earlobe or Gauged Earlobe Repair

Long-term use of heavy earrings/ plugs or experiencing a trauma to the area can cause an unsightly tear in the gentle earlobe tissues. When this occurs, Dr. Farzaneh can perform torn earlobe repair to safely and effectively correct the defect. Typically performed under local anesthesia in less than an hour, Dr. Farzaneh will use a delicate suturing technique to expertly repair the earlobe and minimize scarring.

Not being a fan of cosmetic surgery, we were faced with a challenge when we came to the undeniable realization that my 9-year-old daughter needed to have her ears “pinned” (otoplasty). The whole concept was completely new to us and we had no idea where to begin. When we met Dr. Farzaneh, he was courteous, respectful, completely forthcoming and, above all, he remembered that my daughter was the patient.

It is challenging these days to find a pediatrician that isn’t compelled to talk to the parents more than the child, but that was never an issue here. He also encouraged her to talk about what she wanted the results to be, how she felt about her current appearance, and told her repeatedly that this surgery is entirely her decision. She loved his candor and his gentle manner was both refreshing and comforting, building her trust as she prepared for her transformation.

On to the surgery: The day of the surgery, the surgical staff was attentive and very child-friendly. I was greatly surprised and pleased because this is not typically a child-focused area, so finding a team that could so comfortably interact with her and gain and maintain her trust was critical. She never had a worry and was very eager to see the outcome – a surprising approach for one so young. Dr. Farzaneh advised us to follow the post-operative care instructions closely so that her ears would fully heal exactly as they were intended.

The results: BEAUTIFUL! If you have seen the movie An American Tale, Fievel’s ears are pretty similar to my daughter’s “before.” The “after” result can only be described as “perfectly” “natural.” Her ears aren’t plastic-y perfect, but look exactly as they would have if nature hadn’t tweaked them out. She’s so proud of them and has worn her hair up or back every day since!

The care: Always aware of her age, both Dr. Farzaneh and we were concerned about how well she would follow directions to ensure a complete heal with no complications. His attention to the details, the perfection of his procedure, his bedside and phone manner, and even house calls to check in made this an absolutely perfect medical experience. Thank you, Dr. Farzaneh! You have given our daughter a new perspective on herself and a tremendous boost to her self-esteem.

Results

Following ear surgery with Dr. Farzaneh, your ears will no longer be the first thing you notice when you look in the mirror. Formerly large, misshapen or protruding ears will now blend in with the rest of your appearance, and split earlobes will have been artfully corrected so that scarring is minimal. Thanks to Dr. Farzaneh’s artistic eye and exceptional technical skill, the new shape and position of your ears will also appear extremely natural, as though you were born with balanced, symmetrical and discreet ears.

Are You a Candidate for Ear Surgery?

As with all of his cosmetic procedures, Dr. Farzaneh determines ear surgery candidacy on an individual basis, following a thorough discussion of the patient’s cosmetic goals, concerns and desires.

With that said, ideal adult or teen candidates for this procedure are generally:

• In good overall health without any untreated chronic ear infections.
• Without any medical conditions that may impair healing or increase surgery risk.
• Non-smokers.
• Realistic in their expectations of surgery.

Ideal child candidates for ear surgery are generally:

• In good overall health without any untreated chronic ear infections.
• At least five years old, when the cartilage is stable enough for surgery.
• Able to communicate and follow directions well.

While these general guidelines are helpful, please note that the only way to know for sure if you or your child are a candidate for ear surgery is to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Farzaneh today.