San Francisco Otoplasty (Ear Revision Surgery)

If you're considering ear revision surgery in the San Francisco Bay Area:

Revision Surgery to Correct Large and Protruding Ears

Large and protruding ears can result in considerable distress for children, often leading to teasing from their peers. This can harm a child’s self-esteem, echoes of which can persist into his or her adult years. Ear revision surgery, technically called otoplasty, reduces the size of large ears or it sets them closer to the head.

Typically, the procedure is performed on children between the ages of four and fourteen when the ears are fully grown. Adults can and often do have the surgery performed as well to create facial balance. If you think that you or your child could benefit from an otoplasty, this section will familiarize you with the procedure before you contact a San Francisco Bay Area cosmetic surgeon. Here you will discover:

• What you can realistically expect from ear revision surgery.
• Whether you’re a candidate for otoplasty.
• The best options and alternatives available to you.
• How the otoplasty procedure is done.

Once you’ve reviewed the benefits and options associated with ear surgery, you’ll want to set up a consultation visit with Dr. Mosser in his San Francisco plastic surgery office to discuss your specific goals. In this relaxed environment, he will be able to explain to you:

• Whether or not a otoplasty makes sense for you.
• The alternatives for meeting your specific goals.
• The step-by-step procedure that you will undergo.
• The outcome you can reasonably expect along with risks and possible complications of ear revision surgery.

Ear Surgery Basics

An otoplasty typically takes two to three hours to perform. The specific technique to be used will depend on the problem you seek to correct. For example, even when only one ear appears to protrude, surgery may be performed on both ears to achieve a harmonious balance between them.

A common otoplasty technique requires a small incision in the back of the ear to expose the cartilage, which can be sculpted and repositioned to bend the ear back toward the head. A larger piece of cartilage may be removed to lend the ear a more natural appearing fold when the surgery is done. Non-removable stitches may be used to help maintain the new shape.

In almost all cases, ear revision surgery will leave a very faint scar in the back of the ear that is well-hidden and will fade with time.

Learn more about the Best Candidates for Ear Revision in San Francisco