Ears that are not proportionate with the rest of the facial features may be distressing to some people.

Patients turn to an otoplasty procedure to fix their ears if they feel that their ears are too large or stick out too far from the face. They may also seek cosmetic ear surgery in hopes of reducing the earlobe size, as earlobes sagging and enlargement are some of the common signs of aging. Ear surgery can also help those whose ears were injured from various traumas, or if they decided to stop wearing ear stretchers and want to repair the damages left in their earlobes.

If you are considering otoplasty surgery, remember that the ears are an important part of what people see when they look at your face. For this reason, it’s best to entrust your care to a qualified, experienced facial surgeon such as Dr. Ort. As a double board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeon, she helps her Bellevue otoplasty patients improve the look of their ears with her specialized techniques.

Who is a Good Candidate for Otoplasty?

There are several benefits to be had from precisely applied otoplasty in Bellevue’s premier plastic surgery destination. Otoplasty may provide an excellent solution for any healthy adult, teen, or child who wants to improve the appearance of their ears. Commonly, Otoplasty surgery candidates have the following concerns including:

Large ears
Protruding ears
Lack of ear folds or grooves
Mis-shaped ears
Asymmetric ears
Sagging earlobes
Earlobes left with stretched out piercings
Damaged ears from injury or trauma

You must be in overall good health to have surgery. Dr. Ort may recommend that you suspend the use of certain medications, such as a blood thinner, prior to your otoplasty surgery. Dr. Ort is regarded among the most experienced Bellevue otoplasty providers.

Repair of Damaged Earlobes

If you want to have your earlobes repaired after a rip from heavy earrings or to close unwanted piercing holes, then Dr. Ort can also perform this type of reconstructive procedure. This is a delicate process that requires careful removal of the excess skin and making layered stitches on both sides of the earlobes or upper ears.

Earlobe Reduction Surgery

As a part of the aging process, volume loss, sagging of skin, and wrinkles can occur anywhere on the face and body including your ears. Although rare, earlobes can also enlarge or stretch out as a result of a facelift complication known as “Pixie ears” if the facelift incision is closed too tightly under tension, pulling the earlobe downward. Dr. Ort, as a specialist performing high quality facial plastic surgery in Bellevue, WA and surrounding Seattle areas, offers Earlobe Reduction surgery to decrease the size of the lobule to a more shapely appearance, allowing youthful rejuvenation of the ears.

Ear Pinning – Common Otoplasty Surgery

The primary reason for wanting otoplasty is for ear pinning to change the size of the outer ears so that the ears are closer to the head. This type of ear surgery is very popular for children, but teenagers and adults can also request otoplasty. Having ears that protrude abnormally is often a genetic feature that people might feel embarrassed by.

Ear pinning is one of the most popular types of cosmetic surgeries requested by patients. In children and teens, ear pinning surgery can help address and prevent much of the teasing and bullying that kids are often exposed to as a consequence of having misshapen ears, or ears that protrude too far from the head. Otoplasty surgery can safely be performed on children as young as 6 years old, and it can provide a permanent solution to this problem.

How Is Ear Pinning Performed?

During your consultation for an otoplasty Bellevue facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ort will examine your ears that could include collecting medical images, and she will discuss personalized surgical options with you, with your goals in mind. Your ear surgery can be performed with local anesthesia alone, however an oral or IV sedation may provide more comfort if you feel anxious about having a procedure. There are various techniques used in repairing protruding ears.

Incisions are made on the back of the ear which is cosmetically hidden in the groove and tends to heal well. Oftentimes if the ears are large and protruding out, the surgery may require removing a strip of cartilage along with the excess skin. After the skin and cartilage are removed, the ear is folded to be closer to the head and stitched carefully to reduce the appearance of a scar. If the lack of fold or groove in the ear is the main problem, the ear can be folded and stitched without having to remove a part of the ear cartilage. The ears are bandaged and taped after the surgery to keep the ears in the correct position during the healing process.

Schedule a Consultation for Otoplasty in Bellevue, WA

If you dislike the look of your ears or if you have damaged the ears in some way, don’t fret. This can be improved with an Otoplasty procedure done by our board certified surgeon, Dr. Ort. Alongside her excellent staff, she has helped many patients feel confident about the look of their ears. As a facial cosmetic and reconstructive specialist, Dr. Yirae Ort is regarded among the most experienced Bellevue otoplasty providers. If you would like to learn more, contact Dr. Ort’s office for a consultation appointment. Call the office at (425) 200-5890 or fill out the online form today.

Ear Surgery Recovery

In most cases, an otoplasty can be done in an office setting under local anesthesia or with sedation, and patients are able to return home the same day. Avoiding heavy exercise and sleeping in an elevated position for the first few days will help the recovery process and decrease swelling. Pain-relieving medication can be used as prescribed, and you can apply ice packs to your ears. For Ear Pinning surgery, patients will likely return to our surgeon’s office one day after surgery for an examination and replacement of the wrapping and the bandages around the ears.

It is important to keep the ears clean and dry during the recovery process, according to the instructions given. You may experience swollen tissues, numbness, skin discoloration, and itching as the incisions heal. But these typically improve over time. The recovery process generally takes about six weeks for our Bellevue otoplasty patients, although residual swelling will decrease slowly and the skin will continue to tighten around the ears. Dr. Ort will let you know when you can return to all normal daily activities including exercise.

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Contact us to set up your personalized consultation with Dr. Ort. We warmly invite you to experience exceptional cosmetic surgery at Yirae Ort M.D. Facial Aesthetic Surgery.

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Otoplasty in Bellevue, Wa