The otoplasty is a popular facial plastic surgery procedure, especially among children, young people, and even adults. During this cosmetic surgery, the facial plastic surgeon will pin back a person’s ears, so they do not protrude from their head. Ears that protrude can be a distraction from other features. In order to get the best results from the otoplasty operation, patients should follow these recovery guidelines. The surgeon also will provide the patient with personalized instructions for caring for their ears and themselves after the surgery.
What Can I Expect During the Otoplasty Recovery?
Dressing
There will be an ear dressing placed over the ears, and this should remain in place until the surgeon removes it. This dressing is designed to protect the ears and allow them to heal. It helps to prevent infection while also helping to finalize the results of the surgery. The ear dressing is in place for about a week after the operation.
Avoid Bending
Do not allow your ears to be bent for at least four weeks after the surgery. If the ears are bent, the results of the surgery may be skewed, and the patient may be dissatisfied in the end. Patients should avoid contact sports and strenuous exercise while they give their body time to heal from the operation.
Washing Hair
Avoid washing your hair until the ear dressing has been removed. When you wash your hair, shampoo and soap can soak into the ear dressing and can put you at risk for infection. It is best to keep the dressing dry and to protect it while you recover from your surgery.
Protective Headband
Once the ear dressing has been removed, patients should wear a protective headband in order to secure the results of the surgery. This helps to protect the ears from becoming bent, especially overnight. The protective headband is then worn for about two weeks after the dressing has been removed.
Infections
Be aware of the signs of infection and contact your surgeon if you notice anything out of the ordinary during the recovery process. Swelling, redness, or pus at the incision site should be reported to your surgeon as soon as possible. If you spike a fever at all during the recovery process, be sure to contact the facial plastic surgeon’s office quickly in order to be seen by a doctor.
Returning to Work after Otoplasty
Most otoplasty patients are able to return to work within seven days of the operation. As this is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures for children, doctors often recommend that young patients take at least a week off of school while they recover. Many children have the otoplasty performed during a break from the school year. By taking the proper precautions and resting during the recovery process, patients will get the best results possible from their otoplasty procedure. Patients should discuss their own personal health conditions and risk factors with the surgeon in order to determine what their recovery process will be like.
No matter how much you feel that you could benefit from an otoplasty, becoming a candidate requires going through the consultation to ensure that the surgery is safe. If you require certain medications or have a serious condition, it might be unsafe.
Other Treatment Options
You always have the option to select a facelift or laser skin treatment if there are concerns about the potential results or complications. Injectable fillers have increased in popularity among older patients because the benefits are immediate and simple. If you live near a cosmetic surgeon, you could complete the consultation and treatment all within an extended lunch break from work.
For the past decade, patients have told their cosmetic surgeons that they are thrilled with the results of their traditional cosmetic surgery procedures. A board-certified facial plastic surgeon uses their precision and skills to craft the perfect cosmetic procedures for each patient. However, experienced cosmetic surgeons have recognized that there are limitations to various procedures, and the true professionals are not satisfied with simply providing patients the services that are already available. This is why they set about researching, developing, and ultimately pioneering new and improved cosmetic procedure techniques. These unique approaches have been hailed as some of the top cosmetic surgery advancements.
A facial rejuvenation procedure provided by experts is a great way to improve your appearance. Professional cosmetic surgeons are always excited to restore the best appearance of any new patient. Procedure techniques are always evolving, and the doctor is committed to implementing the latest cosmetic surgery options for patients that need help.
These innovative, unique techniques accomplish their goals in new ways, such as applying a uniform tension to the face and eliminating the signs of aging that are present, including frown lines, crow’s feet, and wrinkles. The result should appear natural. The patient never looks as if they had their skin stretched too far; their eyes do not appear tight and pulled back — they simply look like the person they want to be before the operation.
New Innovative Techniques
The medical community has taken note of these new techniques as well. They recognize that these are the cosmetic surgery techniques of the future, allowing patients to reap the benefits of cosmetic surgery without some of the negative side effects that have been noticed throughout the years. Research and surgical results have proven that this is one of the most successful facial cosmetic procedures available today.
The most long-term benefits are achieved by making the commitment to work with a cosmetic procedure expert. A board-certified cosmetic surgery expert can also identify the parts of the face that need rejuvenation so that you end up with adequate rejuvenation. It’s important that the doctor prevents any chance of over-correction by avoiding cosmetic procedures in areas that are still tight and youthful.
You can anticipate some puffiness and bruises in areas where the tissue is treated because the trauma is unavoidable. If there are any signs of severe complications, you can request an examination from a cosmetic surgery expert. A good candidate is going to understand the potential side effects and complications, and they should feel that it is worth the opportunity for a long-term solution.