Sinno Center for Plastic Surgery: Dr. Fady A. Sinno
5300 Dorsey Hall Drive #102
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Phone: (410) 884-4200
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Ear Surgery
Plastic surgery techniques can easily correct prominent ears or deformities of the outer ear’s cartilage. Ear surgery (otoplasty) can help Baltimore and Columbia, MD, men, women, and children feel more confident in the way they look. At the Sinno Center for Plastic Surgery, we will work with you, or with your child, to ease the process of cosmetic ear surgery and create the results you want.
Ear Surgery
Before & After Photos
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
About Ear Surgery
In Baltimore, plastic surgery for ears, technically called otoplasty, is usually performed either to bring prominent ears closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. A variety of ear deformities, such as those caused by injury and stretched ear lobes, may also require otoplasty.
Meet Dr. Fady Sinno
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Fady Sinno provides individual attention and personal care to each of his patients. His warm, personal approach and exceptional results make him a top choice for Baltimore, MD, area men and women who want to look and feel their best.
Meet Dr. Sinno
Generally, this operation is performed on children between the ages of 4 and 14. After age 5, ears are usually fully grown. The earlier parents can arrange for surgery, the more likely their child will avoid the teasing that often happens with large or protruding ears.
Adults also may have plastic surgery on their ears, generally for uncorrected problems from childhood.
What to Expect
Ear surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis. Younger children usually receive general anesthesia, so they can sleep through the procedure. Older children and adults may get local anesthesia, combined with a sedative allowing the patient to be awake, but relaxed.
An otoplasty on both ears normally takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete. One of the most common techniques used by Dr. Sinno is to put a small incision in the back of the ear, exposing the cartilage. He then molds that tissue so it pulls the ear back toward the head. Non-removable internal stitches may be used to help hold the new shape of the ear. Sometimes, Dr. Sinno may reshape larger pieces of cartilage to give the ear a more natural look when the ear heals after surgery.
Ear Surgery Recovery
Pain and swelling
Ears may throb or ache for a few days after the surgery. Pain is relatively mild and can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medicine. Ears may appear swollen for a few days after the surgery, especially after the first set of dressings are removed.
Dressings and sutures
Immediately after surgery, a bulky dressing will be wrapped around the head for a few days. This helps enhance the molding and healing of the ears. After that, a soft headband-style garment is worn at night for several weeks.
The stitches (sutures) are usually removed in about a week, or they may dissolve on their own.
Resuming normal activity
- Both children and adults can expect to be up and around within just a few hours after the surgery.
- Any activities where the ear might be bent should be avoided for 4 to 5 weeks after the surgery.
- Children can return to school after a week or so, but they still need to be careful with playground and physical education activities. Adults can plan to go back to work after 2 to 5 days.
Results
This procedure will correct the protrusion of the ears so they no longer stick out noticeably. In the case of large ears, the plastic surgery will reduce the size of the ears so they are more normal looking. Abnormalities in the shape and folds of the ear cartilage can be corrected.
Keep in mind, the goal of the surgery is to improve the shape or position of the ears, but not make things absolutely perfect. In fact, you should not expect ears to be perfectly symmetrical either since exact symmetry is unlikely and unnatural for anyone. Most people are very pleased with the results of plastic surgery to correct ear appearance.
Next Steps
Are you ready to find out more about cosmetic ear surgery (otoplasty) in the Baltimore or Columbia, MD, area? Request your consultation online with Dr. Fady Sinno or call us at (410) 884-4200. His office is conveniently located near Annapolis and Frederick.
