Otoplasty – What it is
Otoplasty corrects protruding ears, positioning them closer to the head. It is suitable for both adults and children from preschool age.
Protruding ears can cause significant psychological distress, especially in children, who can be particularly harsh with one another. For this reason, early surgical intervention is recommended after the age of 5, when ear development is nearly complete.
How otoplasty is performed:
There are different otoplasty techniques applied by plastic surgeons. It is particularly important from which side of the ear (anterior or posterior) the intervention is performed.
Dr. G. Chorti performs the procedure by scoring the cartilage from the anterior side of the ear, allowing it to naturally bend in the opposite direction. This results in a much more natural curvature of the auricle. The procedure is technically more demanding, as the cartilage is separated from the skin, and achieving an optimal result requires significant surgical experience.
In contrast, with the cartilage folding technique and suturing through an incision on the posterior side, an unnatural angle may be created, and there is a small risk of suture rupture and the ear returning to its previous position.
The surgeon applies this technique under local anesthesia, with a total procedure time of 30–45 minutes for both ears. No hospitalization is required, and return to daily activities occurs within 1–2 days.
The results are permanent, highly satisfactory, with a very low rate of recurrence.
The incisions are not visible due to their location and fade completely within six to eight months. Postoperative pain is easily managed with simple analgesics.