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Pinnaplasty in adultsPublished by Bupa's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, December 2007. This factsheet is for adults who are considering having surgery to correct prominent ears. This operation involves reshaping the cartilage in the ear and/or using stitches to hold the ears back. There is a separate factsheet available for parents of children having surgery to correct prominent ears - Pinnaplasty in children. Your care will be adapted to meet your individual needs and may differ from what is described here. So it's important that you follow your surgeon's advice.
About pinnaplastyPinnaplasty is the only way to permanently pin back ears in adults and children. Some people's ears stick out more than others. Ears that stick out do not cause any physical problems but can make people feel self-conscious. Getting adviceIt's important not to rush into the decision to have cosmetic surgery. Discuss your options with your GP, who may be able to recommend a reputable surgeon or give advice about how to choose which hospital to be treated in. Before opting for pinnaplasty, discuss with your surgeon what you are hoping to gain from the operation and the result you can realistically expect. Preparing for your operationYour surgeon will explain how to prepare for your operation. For example if you smoke you may be asked to quit, as smoking increases your risk of getting a wound infection and slows your recovery. The operation is usually done as a day case under general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the operation. Alternatively you may prefer to have the surgery under local anaesthesia, in which case your ears and area around your ears is numb but you stay awake. A sedative may be given with a local anaesthetic to help you relax. Your surgeon will advise which type of anaesthesia is most suitable for you. If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will be asked to follow fasting instructions. Typically you must not eat or drink for about six hours before a general anaesthetic. However some anaesthetists allow occasional sips of water until two hours beforehand. At the hospital your nurse will explain how you will be cared for during your stay. Your nurse may do some tests such as checking your heart rate and blood pressure, and testing your urine. Your surgeon will usually visit you to discuss the operation and ask you to sign a consent form. This confirms that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given your permission for it to go ahead. Your surgeon will examine your ears and measure their shape and size. Your surgeon may take photographs, so that the results of surgery can be compared with your original appearance. Your nurse will prepare you for theatre. You may be asked to wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots forming in the veins in your legs. About the operationThe operation takes about one hour. Your surgeon will make small cuts behind each ear to expose the cartilage. The cartilage is reshaped to allow the ears to lie closer to the side of your head. Some cartilage may be removed to make this easier. Your ears are then stitched back to hold them in their new position. Alternatively, your surgeon may make small cuts behind each ear to expose the cartilage and remove some skin. The cartilage is folded back on itself and stitches are used to hold the ears in position. A bandage is wrapped around your head and over both ears. This protects your ears and holds them in their new position while they heal. What to expect afterwardsYou will need to rest until the effects of the general anaesthetic have passed. You may need pain relief to help with any discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off. You will be able to go home when you feel ready. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You should try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours. Your nurse will give you some advice about caring for your ears before you go home. You may be given a date for a follow-up appointment. Dissolvable stitches will disappear on their own in seven to ten days. Non-dissolvable stitches are removed a week after surgery. Recovering from pinnaplastyIf you need them, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice. General anaesthesia can temporarily affect your co-ordination and reasoning skills, so you should not drive, drink alcohol, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. If you are in any doubt about driving, please contact your motor insurer so that you are aware of their recommendations, and always follow your surgeon's advice. Keep your head propped up on pillows when you are lying down. This will help reduce swelling and bruising. You may need to wear your bandage for up to two weeks. This will help your ears settle in to their new position. Your ears may itch as they heal but its important not to reach under the bandage to scratch, as this can cause infection or poor healing. Keep your bandage dry. Wear a shower cap when you are in the bath or shower. You may need to wear a smaller and lighter headband for a few weeks after the bandage is removed. This may need to be worn day and night, or only at night to stop the ears being bent forward against the pillow. You can usually return to work once the bandage is removed. It's best to wait at least four weeks before going swimming. What are the risks?Pinnaplasty is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications of this procedure. Side-effectsThese are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful procedure, for example feeling sick as a result of the general anaesthetic. Side-effects of pinnaplasty include:
Sometimes the dressing can chafe the ears and break the skin which can take longer to heal. ComplicationsThis is when problems occur during or after the operation. Most people are not affected. The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding, or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). Specific complications of pinnaplasty are uncommon, but can include:
Results of pinnaplasty may not last forever. Your ears may spring back into their original position, but this is rare. It's possible that you may not be completely satisfied with your appearance after the operation. The exact risks are specific to you and differ for every person, so we have not included statistics here. Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you. Further information
Sources
Related topicsThis information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by cosmetic surgeon Anthony Attwood, MB BS, FRCS (Ed.) and by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. Publication date: December 2007. Expected review date: December 2009.
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