The Procedure + Surgical Techniques

The surgical technique for an otoplasty procedure will be dependent on your individual surgical needs and your surgeon’s preferences.

Typically, your surgeon will use a scalpel to score the ear cartilage near the fold where the ear joins the head. This allows the surgeon to remodel the shape of the ear into a new position. In some instances where the ear protrudes significantly, your surgeon may have to remove an ellipse of cartilage entirely. The incision is then closed with sutures, which holds the cartilage in its new position.

Hospital Stay and Anaesthesia

Depending on individual circumstances, your surgery can be safely performed either under a general anaesthetic with an anaesthetist present, or, in our rooms in our accredited theatre with just a local anaesthetic. Children will often require general anaesthetic, and may need an overnight stay in hospital. Your plastic surgeon will discuss your choices in your initial consultation and determine which option is safest for you.

Your Consultation

In order to keep your consultation as smooth and efficient as possible, we ask that you please bring all relevant documentation with you on the day. This includes your referral letter, Medicare card, private health insurance details and any third party or return to work insurance information.

During your initial consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon, you will have an extended opportunity to discuss expectations and desired outcomes, along with any questions you may have about the procedure.

You will then meet with one of our experienced nurses, where you will have clinical images taken in our blue room as a before and after reference for both yourself and your surgeon (please note that all our images are confidential and are stored securely online with the current privacy act). During this time, you may also be fitted with a compression garment.

The final stage involves meeting with your surgeon’s personal assistant. You will be given an in-depth quote, outlining the surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist fees, along with some take home information your procedure.

There is a lot of information to take in after your first consultation. We encourage patients to go home and discuss their procedure with loved ones and come back for a subsequent visit. We find patients almost always come back with additional questions they hadn’t previously thought of, and this second visit allows you to go into your surgery feeling confident and fully informed about your procedure.

If this consultation is for your child, your surgeon may request returning for a subsequent visit when they are older. It is important to mention that otoplasty is not performed before the child is old enough to comprehend the surgery and able to be involved in the decision-making process.

We recommend that you allow an hour for this consultation. Please keep this in mind when organising parking so that you don’t feel the need to rush.

Before your procedure

There are a number of things you can start to implement before your procedure, to encourage a smooth recovery and ensure you are as comfortable as possible post-surgery.

It is important that you:

• Exercise, having good physical health will significantly help your recovery process
• Provide a complete medical history for your specialist plastic surgeon, including all current medications, as some may need to be stopped prior to surgery.
• Quit smoking
• If you’re having general anaesthesia, it is important that you pre-arrange someone to transport you too and from your surgery, as well as stay with you 48 hours after returning home.
• Ensure you follow pre-operative instructions, such as fasting times, or your procedure may have to be cancelled.
• Prepare your recovery area! You’ll want to have everything you need to recover easily accessible and within arm’s reach. We suggest comfortable pillows, icepacks, prescribed medications, emergency contact details, a phone, as well as things to keep you entertained.

Recovery

Recovery time is highly individual and your time frame for recovery will vary depending on your individual surgery details, the nature of your employment and your overall level of health. Your surgeon will discuss this with you prior to surgery, and it is important to allow yourself the recommended recovery time. Vigorous activity and exercise should be avoided for the first month, however gentle walking is fine after the first few days.

On discharge, you will be given specific postoperative instructions to facilitate recovery, and a follow-up appointment will be made with your plastic surgeon. These instructions will cover everything you will need to know in order to make your recovery as smooth and comfortable as possible.  

After surgery a bandage is applied covering your ears tightly like a headband, and will remain in place until your first post-operative appointment, which is between seven to 10 days depending on your individual surgery details. After the bandage is removed you may be required to wear a headband at night to complement the surgery and help protect the shape of your ears. We recommend sleeping with your head elevated on two pillows to help reduce swelling. Most adults and children can resume normal activities, such as work or school, after the bandages have been removed, as long as care is taken to ensure the ears aren’t knocked. Vigorous activities and contact sport should be avoided for up to six weeks post-surgery.   We are dedicated to supporting you to make a swift, uncomplicated recovery. A 24/7 on-call medical assistance service is available for all post-operative patients.  

View our post-operation information here

Not quite ready or have a question to ask?

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