Second Ear

Otoplasty is now performed on the second ear to achieve a comparable anatomical correction. By first operating on the most difficult ear and then matching the second (less difficult ear), symmetry is more easily achieved.

Preparing for The Operation

Products that contain Aspirin, Vitamin E, or Evening Primrose oil should be avoided for four weeks before surgery. The use of Vitamin K (10mg daily) for three days before surgery is recommended.

Strong alcoholic drinks should be avoided before surgery.

Important: Patients should not smoke for two weeks before surgery and for a few days after surgery. Smoking interferes with the circulation of blood to the skin and can cause death of the skin flaps.

Patients should purchase Betadine shampoo use it to wash their hair the night before surgery (if surgery is scheduled for the morning) or the morning before (if surgery is scheduled for the afternoon). Hair may be conditioned and blow dried.

If the patient develops any signs of infection, pustules or boils on the face or body before surgery, the doctor should be notified immediately.

On the day of the surgery, the patient should wear comfortable, loose clothing that do not have to be pulled over the head, to the hospital.

Patients must not wear any make-up (including mascara and nail polish) when they go into surgery. If the patient tints, dyes or bleaches his or her hair, this should be done no later than one week before surgery.

Closure & Dressing

Cotton sponges soaked in gentamycin and polysporin are used to fill al cavities and a bilateral mastoid dressing is applied. Intravenous antibiotics are not used during surgery or postoperatively. Cephalosporin type antibiotics are prescribed for oral use for 1 week postsurgery. Patients are discharged within an hour following surgery, after appropriate postsurgical and anesthesia recovery.

Post Operative Care

Full recovery from surgery and anesthesia takes approximately 2 weeks and complete healing may take up to 1 year. After the first 24 hours, dressing are removed and the patient may shower. On the second postoperative day the patient is allowed to start moderate activities and after 2 weeks normal activities can be resumed. During the first 1 to 2 weeks, the patient wears a four-inch stockinette ear dressing, graduating to a ski headband or something comparable at night to a ski headband or something comparable at night for the next 6 weeks. The dressings not only serve to support the ear, but also as a helpful reminder.

With the use of high-tech laser in surgery, along with intravenous sedation techniques, patients typically have minimal bruising or pain. Recommended pain medications include ketorolac tromethamine.

On removal of the dressing, patients can observe an almost complete correction of their deformity. Within a few weeks, the wound has dramatically improved and the surgical corrections are less apparent and more natural in appearance. Patients should be advised of the normal time of wound healing which is 40% at 6 weeks, 70% at 6 months, and 90% at 1 year.

Typically, most patients are up and around a day or two after surgery. You will be quite presentable 1 week after surgery however full healing can take up to 3 months.

Rest with your head elevated for the first 2 - 4 days. You can shampoo your hair once your dressing has been removed. Do not wrap the towel around your head as this will pull the ears forward. Dry thoroughly behind the ears after each shower. Burning, tightness, itchiness and puffiness are normal for the first few weeks. Any excessive bleeding, discolouration or swelling should be immediately reported to The Centre.

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