Otoplasty in Santa Barbara, CA
For many, ear surgery is an important part of the self-love process. Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS, performs ear pinning surgery for both children and adults in and near Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Santa Maria in order to help them find confidence.
What Is An Otoplasty?
An otoplasty is a surgical procedure of the ears to improve the shape, position or proportion of the ear.
Otoplasty can correct a defect in the ear structure that is present at birth and becomes apparent with development, or it can treat misshapen ears caused by injury. Most of the time, individuals seek an otoplasty to set back prominent ears that project too much from the side of the head.
Ear surgery creates a natural shape while bringing balance and proportion to the ears and face. Correction of even minor deformities can have profound benefits to appearance and self-esteem.
How Is An Otoplasty Performed?
An incision is made along the back of the ear in the small fold of skin between the ear and the side of the head.
The skin and soft tissues are then elevated from the underlying cartilage and the cartilage is folded to create the typical folds found within the normal human ear.
The ear is then pinned back to the side of the head using special stitches.
The ears are dressed with a mold-type dressing to protect their new shape and position. The goal is to prevent forward displacement of the ears while they heal.
What Kind Of Anesthesia Is Recommended During An Otoplasty?
Depending on the patient’s age and comfort level, twilight anesthesia (local anesthesia with sedation) or general anesthesia may be used.
Young children and anxious adults would be best served with general anesthesia, whereas others have an option between the two types.
Meet Dr. Yegiyants
Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in surgical and non-invasive procedures. Learn more about Dr. Yegiyants and why you should choose her for your next procedure.
What Can I Expect After An Otoplasty?
There will be a compression dressing placed around the ears immediately following surgery. This is necessary to help decrease the swelling over the new contours of the ear cartilage. This dressing contains a special mold created to protect the new shape of the ears during the initial healing process. The pain is generally mild and is relatively equal on both sides. Excessive pain on one side relative to the other may be an indication of bleeding and warrants immediate evaluation.
Upon removing the dressing, the ears will be swollen and discolored. Although the appearance of the ears at this point will give some indication as to the final post-operative result, the ears will look far more natural during the following two to four weeks. It takes approximately one year to see the final results.
Patients may experience some numbness along the outer edge of the ears for the first one to two months. This is normal and results from cutting across some of the small nerves going into the skin. Over time, these nerves re-grow and sensation is usually fully recovered.
How Long Will An Otoplasty Last?
In general, an otoplasty achieves the cartilage and shape changes required for the long-term. However, cartilage has memory and there is potential that the repair may not hold allowing the prominent ear to recur.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to take the next steps towards booking a procedure? Schedule your consultation today to begin your aesthetic journey with Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS.
When Is It The Right Time For An Otoplasty?
The ideal time to perform an otoplasty for correction of prominent ears is during childhood as the ears are nearly fully developed by five or six years of age.
From a social and psychological standpoint, most surgeons recommend performing an otoplasty prior to the child attending school in order to avoid possible potential social ridicule by other children. Many people do not seek repair of prominent ears until adulthood. There are generally no additional major risks associated with ear surgery in adults.
What is the Cost of Ear Pinning in Santa Barbara?
To learn about the cost of otoplasty, we invite you to schedule a consultation with triple board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Yegiyants. During your consultation, you can expect to review your cosmetic goals and learn about cost and important financing information.
Learn more about ear surgery with Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS, by contacting us to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve clients in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Maria, as well as other nearby neighborhoods in California.