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| Surgical Procedure |
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Surgery begins with an incision just behind the ear, in the natural fold where the ear is joined to the head. The surgeon will then remove the necessary amounts of cartilage and skin required to achieve the right effect. In some cases, the surgeon will trim the cartilage, shaping it into a more desirable form and then pin the cartilage back with permanent sutures to secure the cartilage.
In other instances, the surgeon will not remove any cartilage at all, using stitches to hold the cartilage permanently in place. After sculpting the cartilage to the desired shape, the surgeon will apply sutures to anchor the ear until healing occurs to hold the ear in the desired position. |
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| Technique |
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An incision is made in the back of the ear so cartilage can be sculpted or folded. Stitches are used to close the incision and help maintain the new shape. |
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| Duration of Operation |
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| Risks and Complications |
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The risks are minimum. There will be a thin white scar behind the ear after healing. Because this scar is in a natural crease behind the ear, the problem of visibility is inconsequential. Anything unusual should be reported to the surgeon immediately. |
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| After Care |
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Soft dressings applied to the ears will remain for a few days. Most patients experience some mild discomfort. If you are accustomed to sleeping on your side, your sleep patterns may be disrupted for a week or so because you cannot put any pressure on the ear areas. Headbands are sometimes recommended to hold the ears in the desired position for two weeks after the surgery. |
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| Recovery |
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Adults and children are usually up and around a few hours after surgery. The patients head will be wrapped in a bulking bandage to promote the best molding and healing.
Avoid bending ears for a month or so. |
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| Results |
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This procedure has the effect of creating normal-appearing ears that lie neatly, close to the side of the head, whilst keeping the scar hidden behind the ear. |
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| Hospital Admission |
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Patients do not usually need to remain overnight at the hospital. |
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| Anesthetic |
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| Pre Operative Care |
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Inform us about any allergies, any serious medical condition(s), and all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription) |
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Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery. |
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| Post Operative Care |
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Most normal activities can be resumed within a few weeks, but you will need to be very careful to protect your ears for at least 6 weeks, or possibly even longer. In order to make sure that there is no infection or bleeding in the ear after the surgery, you must be very careful to protect the ears and keep them clean. |
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