Ear pinning surgery, also known as pinnaplasty or otoplasty, involves removing and reshaping the cartilage in the ear and then using stitches to pin the ears back. Any incision marks will be concealed in the crease behind the ear and completely hidden. It is sometimes possible to avoid removing cartilage and simply use sutures to fold the cartilage back on itself and reshape the ear in that way.
The operation, normally lasting between one and two hours, can be performed under local anesthetic but, with children, it is more likely that a general anesthetic will be used. On adults, the operation is generally performed as a day patient but often children will be kept in hospital at least for one night as they begin their recovery.
Patients about to have ear pinning surgery will often be advised to take zinc and magnesium for a week before the procedure, as this will help the healing process, and to refrain from taking aspirin, which can hinder blood clotting, and, if possible, stop smoking.
After the operation, a full head bandage will be wrapped around the head and over the ears to both protect the ears and hold them in position. You can expect to wear this support bandage for about ten days. It is quite likely that the ears will ache for the first few days but simple painkillers will usually be sufficient, depending on your surgeon’s advice.
Further complications are rare but there are the usual possibilities of complications arising from surgical procedure such as infection or blood clotting. Specific complications from ear pinning surgery include the development of raised scars; overly asymmetrical ears, which might necessitate further surgery; a loss of skin from the area of the ear which could lead to the need for a skin graft; and an infection in the wound which makes the ear swollen and likely to ‘weep’, which will normally respond to antibiotics.
Most people, however, experience no such problems following this procedure and are thrilled with their ‘new ears’. However, please don’t expect your ears to be totally symmetrical – that would be almost impossible for the surgeon to achieve and, anyway, would look highly unnatural.
The surgeon will give you the necessary advice about resuming work or school but most adults can return to work within a week of the operation. Swimming will need to be avoided for at least three weeks and any contact sports for two months or so. Children can often go back to school after a week, but will need to be advised to be very careful in the playgrounds for a time.
In Britain, ear pinning is available within the National Health Service for those children under 16 who suffer genuine emotional distress because of their ears. For adults, the treatment is regarded as cosmetic surgery and, consequently, unlikely to be available free of charge. At private clinics in the UK you can expect to pay between £1,100 and £2,800.
The average cost in the USA is $2951 but you will need to bear in mind that this is the cost of the surgery alone. This fee does not include the use of the clinic or hospital, the anesthetic costs, administration fees, dressings and medications and so on. Generally, you can expect to add around $1,000 for these ‘add ons’.
Ear Pinning Surgery Cost
It is estimated that about 1.5% of the population think they have ears that are too prominent. In the USA alone about 25,000 people each year are so concerned that they undergo ear pinning surgery.
Ear Pinning Surgery Cost
