Otoplasty Jacksonville
An otoplasty, or Ear Surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that allows an ear surgeon to take corrective actions for ear injuries or inherited ear problems. Ear surgery in Florida is a common pediatric plastic surgery often recommended for children between the ages of four to fourteen.
Ear surgery is not limited to children. As a cosmetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Hardy performs all the corrective ear surgeries that are medically recommended for his adult and senior patients. If you suffer from a distractive congenital irregularity, Dr. Hardy can suggest how plastic ear surgery can be used to correct your particular ear problem. Whether your ears exhibit abnormal traits to your genetic make-up or an unexpected injury, you get to enjoy the cosmetic improvements to your facial appearance for a lifetime.
Reasons for Considering Ear Surgery:
- Ears Stick Out – Restore balance of facial proportions to the ears.
- Lop Ear – Correct folded ear tips to eliminate lop ear.
- Offset Earlobes – Reshape long, uneven or offset earlobes.
- Small Ears – Enhance very small ears or other congenital ear defects.
- Loss of Ear – Remedy any ear injury, including the complete loss of an ear.
General Ear Surgery Procedures
Everyone’s ear surgery is different, but the standard otoplasty procedure begins with an incision in the crease behind the ear to allow the plastic ear surgeon access to the ear cartilage. Dr. Hardy’s artisan skills are called upon as he reshapes the ears and repositions them closer to the head. A number of ear surgery techniques can be used by a plastic ear surgeon to correct irregularities other than protruding ears or folded ear tips. Dr. Hardy will discuss surgical options and non-surgical alternatives with you at your initial consultation. Depending upon the severity of the problem, ear surgery will take 1 ½ to 3 hours and is typically accomplished under general anesthesia.
Recovery from Ear Surgery Jacksonville
After you return home from ear surgery, your family may not recognize you. Post-operative bandages will be wrapped around the head to securely hold your ears in place during the initial healing process. The larger post-op bandages are usually removed within a week and replaced with smaller dressings. The instructions that Dr. Hardy’s staff will give you call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with cosmetic or reconstructive ear surgery but the pain can normally be treated effectively with oral medications.
