Ear correction

An ear correction can occur both unilaterally and bilaterally. Sometimes it only affects the top of the ear. Protruding ears have no functional disadvantage. This aesthetic defect is fairly easy to correct surgically.

We do not operate on children below the age of 16, but they can go to a general hospital for such a surgery.

• Reasonably easy to correct
• Treatment plan based on your complaints
• Our plastic surgeons are affiliated with NVPC and NVEPC
• Both male and female surgeons

The first consultation

During this consultation, the attending plastic surgeon will determine whether you are a suitable candidate for an ear correction and he or she will discuss your wishes. It is important to assess whether your wishes are feasible. The plastic surgeon will inform you of the risks and possible complications of an ear correction.

Before performing the procedure, the attending plastic surgeon must be informed about prior surgeries and possible allergies. If you take medication, the plastic surgeon will tell you which medication should not be taken prior to the surgery. This specifically applies to medication that prevents blood clotting, such as Aspirin, Sintrom, and Marcoumar. You can take Paracetamol before and after the surgery.

Ear correction: the operation

The surgeon marks the area to be treated. The ear correction takes place under local anesthesia, by means of injections of anesthetic fluid. You may experience this as somewhat unpleasant. If you wish, the procedure can also be performed under general anesthesia. However, this entails additional costs.

The technique of the operation consists of reducing the size of the auricle and/or correcting its position and takes place through the back of the auricle. A curved incision is made behind the auricle and a strip of skin is removed from the auricle. Your plastic surgeon makes small cuts in the cartilage so that he can roll up the shell and form a new fold.

With an auricle correction, no cartilage is removed, but the auricle is only fixed to get the desired shape. Sometimes some of the cartilage has to be cut to make the shell less deep. The wound is then sutured and bandaged. Dissolvable sutures are used that do not need to be removed. The procedure takes about an hour and you can go home the same day.

After the ear correction

A compression bandage will be applied around your head as soon as the procedure has been completed. You will need to wear this day and night for one week. This bandage will keep your ears in the right shape and position. When the bandage shifts or gets loose, a new bandage must be applied. After the first week, you will have to wear a special head bandage over your ears during the night. You can carefully clean any blood crusts with water.

You may shower after the operation, provided you do not wet and/or touch the surgical area. You cannot wash your hair during the first week, this is allowed again from the second week. Be careful when using a hair dryer: keep it at a safe distance and set it to the coldest setting. When sleeping, it is best to lie with your head a bit higher, so with an extra pillow or raise the head of the bed a bit.

Tips for recovery after an ear correction

It is also advisable to sleep on your back so that there is no pressure on your ears. It is important to rest as much as possible during the first days after treatment. Avoid bending over and heavy physical exertion. This can cause unwanted bleeding. You can return to work after a week, provided that no heavy physical work has to be done. Sports can be resumed after 4 weeks and the first check-up takes place after two weeks.

Result of the procedure

After the surgery, the treated area may be swollen and bruised at first. The bruises will disappear quickly, but swelling will take a few weeks to go down. The auricles are often a bit red, swollen, and sensitive for a number of weeks. As the swelling goes down, the ears will get their proper shape. The ultimate result of the ear correction can be assessed after about six weeks. Naturally, we will aim for complete symmetry, but we cannot give a 100% guarantee that this will be achieved.

Scars

The scars that arise after the procedure can look a bit fiery at first. Over the course of a year, that fervor fades, they take on the color of the skin and become less visible. Ultraviolet rays are not good for scars, they can therefore remain red for an unnecessarily long time. It is best to keep the scars covered with sunblock in the first few months.

After three months you will come back for a final check, during which new photos are taken for your medical file. The before and after photographs will make it easy to see and compare the result of the surgery.

Ear correction costs

Ear correction before and after photos

Risks and Complications

With any surgery, there is a risk of infection, which may manifest as pain, swelling, redness, and pus from the wound. Bleeding may occur and an adverse reaction to the anesthetic may occur. Bruising may occur, usually accompanied by swelling. There may be asymmetry between the ears and long-term sensitivity of your ears in cold weather. The scar heals better with one than with the other. In rare cases, hypertrophic (= strongly thickened) scars are formed. If unexpected problems arise, for example if inflammation develops, if pain increases or if there is bleeding afterward, or if wound healing is disturbed, you should take contact on with our center.

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