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PROMINENT EAR CORRECTION
The operation for prominent ear correction takes
approximately 90 minutes. The operation is usually carried out
under local anaesthetic in adults, but children are given a
general anaesthetic. After the operation, you will have a head
bandage applied, which will not feel tight and it should remain
in place for one week. The operation is not a painful one, but
you may have some discomfort from the wounds. We recommend
paracetamol for this (aspirin or other rheumatic-type drugs such
as Nurofen or Brufen increase the risk of bleeding). If, during
the week after surgery, you have any problems with throbbing
pain, you must contact us via the hospital because this is a
sign of either infection or a blood clot under the skin.
Any operation can be complicated by either of these problems
- the risk is approximately 4%.
You will be seen one week after surgery for removal of the
bandages and any sutures which need removing.
Once the bandage and sutures have been removed, you will
still need to take care of your ears for some months after the
operation:
- You will need to wear a tennis headband or ski band across
the ears to prevent them being scuffed on your pillow at night
for 3 weeks.
- You should avoid swimming for one month.
- A barrier cream should be applied to the scar for 2
months.
- Contact sports should be avoided for six weeks.
- In children, once the bandage has been removed, you can
return to school, but should not go into the playground for a
further week.
Please use a sun block on the rim of the ears for the first
summer after the operation, because the rim may be slightly numb
and you will not feel the heat of the sun. Similarly, you must
be careful when using a hairdryer. The sensation usually
recovers over a six to nine month period.
The operation is usually successful, but there is always the
small risk that the position of the ears at the end of operation
may not be maintained, although we do our utmost to avoid this.
In particular, no two ears are symmetrical in size or shape and,
therefore, the ears at the end of the operation will not look
identical.
The possible complications from this type of surgery include
poor scar formation, infection and haematoma (a blood clot under
the skin), which may necessitate a return to theatre. Major
complications such as skin or cartilage loss are both very rare.
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