Overly protruding or asymmetrical ears can be a source of self-consciousness and discomfort for some patients. If you’re concerned about the shape, size, or position of your ears, Dr. Hicks can perform personalized ear surgery to address your aesthetic goals.
Improve the shape and positioning of your ears
Most of us don’t focus much on the shape and size of our ears. However, if your ears are unusually shaped or seem to “stick out” from the side of your head, they may draw unnecessary attention and cause self-consciousness. Ideally, the ears are a feature that should not be noticed when looking at someone. Improving the shape, size, and position of the ears allows attention to be redirected to areas of the face that should be noticed for their beauty, such as the eyes and lips.
What is ear surgery (otoplasty)?
Cosmetic ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, is a surgical procedure that repositions or reshapes overly protruding, prominent, large, or misshapen ears. Dr. Hicks makes incisions behind the ear, accessing and altering the ear cartilage to change the shape, size, and overall contours of the ears. Otoplasty does not affect your hearing and may be performed on children, teenagers, and adults.
Other types of ear surgery:
Earlobe Repair
Earlobe repair is a surgical procedure to fix torn or damaged earlobes. You may have torn earlobes because of the long-term use of heavy earrings, acute trauma, or other factors. If the holes in your earlobe are stretched or torn, an earlobe repair can correct the issue.
Earlobe Reduction
Earlobe reduction is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of elongated earlobes. You may have an elongated earlobe due to aging or to the long-term use of heavy earrings. Dr. Hicks exercises and repositions portions of your ear lobule in order to reduce the size of your earlobes.
Your ear surgery consultation with Dr. Hicks
Dr. Hicks performs a thorough evaluation to determine if you’re a good candidate for otoplasty. Good candidates for ear surgery must be in good health, have realistic expectations, and be nonsmokers or willing to stop smoking before and after the procedure. Dr. Hicks will carefully examine your ears, discuss your goals and concerns, and create a personalized surgical plan to achieve natural-looking results.
Benefits of ear surgery:
- Bring the ears closer to the head
- Restore symmetry between the two ears
- Reduce the size of overly large ears
- Make the ears look more symmetric and proportionate
- Improve overall facial harmony
- Improve self-esteem and confidence
How is ear surgery performed?
Dr. Hicks usually performs otoplasty procedures using local anesthesia with or without sedation, depending on the patient and the extent of the procedure. She will make incisions behind the ears to access the ear cartilage. Then, she uses various techniques to sculpt the ear cartilage to achieve the optimal external shape. Incisions are closed with sutures, and a dressing is placed.
What can I expect after ear surgery?
A gentle pressure dressing will be placed at the end of your procedure, and this will be worn for the first few days after surgery. You will have mild discomfort and swelling around the ears, and you may notice some blood-tinged drainage.. You may resume light activities and work after a week, but strenuous workouts should be avoided for about 10-14 days. We advise you to avoid contact sports for 6-8 weeks after the procedure.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Hicks
Dr. Hicks is a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon who believes in complete transparency, integrity, and honesty. She walks you through every aspect of your ear surgery, discusses all of your treatment options, and develops personalized treatment plans. Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Hicks to explore your ear surgery options in Greenville, South Carolina.
