Ear Surgery
Located in Kirkland, WA to serve the Eastside Seattle area
Addressing Prominent Ears
Otoplasty, also known as ear pinning or ear reshaping, is a surgery performed to correct prominent, protruding ears. This can be either due to a lack of formation of the antihelix (the inner ridge of cartilage at the middle and upper portion of the ear) or excess cartilage at the concha (the bowl-shaped region of the ear, closest to the bone). If you are bothered by the size and shape of your ears, an otoplasty can significantly improve your confidence.
Surgical Details
Otoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed on one or both ears. An incision is made in the postauricular region (behind the ear) and a small amount of skin is removed. Depending on the anatomical cause of the prominent ear, different suturing techniques are used to recreate the antihelix and/or bring the conchal cartilage closer to the scalp. Care is taken to make the ear shape natural and balanced with the face. This procedure is performed in the operating room and takes approximately two hours.
Addressing the Earlobes
Stretched or torn earlobes can be a cause of concern to patients. Changes in the earlobe appearance can be due to decreased skin elasticity, trauma, the effects of gravity and wearing earrings, or from intentional stretching (gauges/plugs). If you desire restoration of your earlobe back to a natural contour, surgical repair is a safe and effective option.
Surgical Details
While there are different degrees of correction, most earlobe repairs can be performed under local anesthesia. It is often necessary to remove a small amount of skin in order to realign the tissue – this is critical to prevent notching along the contour of the lobule. The skin will be closed in layers with a mix of absorbable and removable sutures.
Consultation Process
When meeting with Dr. Remington, a treatment plan will be developed to address your concerns. Photographs will be taken and the surgical approach will be illustrated for you. The potential risks, recovery time, and cost of the procedure will be discussed.
Recovery and Results
Most patients are quite comfortable following ear surgery. There will be mild swelling and discomfort for several days. Sutures may or may not require removal in about one week. If you are having an otoplasty, wearing a headband for several weeks after surgery is essential to protect the healing process. If you would like to have your ears re-pierced, this can be done around three weeks after surgery.