Large or protruding ears usually become obvious early in a child’s life, and they can have a life-long effect on their confidence and social experiences. Ear pinning corrects your ears so they lay close to the head in a normal position. As a result, people stop noticing your ears and start noticing more important things about you.
What is Ear Pinning?
Ear pinning or otoplasty corrects protruding ears by reshaping the ear cartilage. Ear pinning works because the cartilage that gives your ears shape can be easily manipulated and repositioned. Dr. Farole’s expertise in facial anatomy makes him the right surgeon to perform ear pinning for you or your child.
How Does Ear Pinning Work?
Ear pinning usually takes place under local anesthesia. The procedure details differ between individuals, but Dr. Farole usually makes an incision behind the ear and removes excess cartilage. He then secures the remaining cartilage so the ear stays in a flatter, more pleasing position. He may also use sutures to pin the ear back so the cartilage grows in this new position.
Cartilage, unlike bone, can heal quickly into new positions. Once your ears have been repositioned and the cartilage has grown into its new shape, they will stay in place for a lifetime. Performing this procedure on children as young as five can save them from many years of teasing and even bullying as children while improving their confidence as adults.
What is Recovery Like After Ear Pinning?
You will have bandages over your ears for the first few days after surgery, and we recommend limiting your activities during this time. You can return to your daily routine within a few days. More strenuous activities should wait for about two to three weeks. You may have swelling and bruising that last a few weeks, but this will become less noticeable after the first week. Ensure that younger children understand the importance of not touching or moving their ears.
What are the Benefits of Ear Pinning?
Ear pinning has benefits for children and adults. Other children can be unkind to those who look different, so your child may become aware that their ears stick out very early. Others have tolerated the teasing in childhood and continued to feel self-conscious in adulthood. Ear pinning can have a powerful effect on your quality of life.
As an additional benefit, ear pinning has minimal downtime and immediate results. You or your child will feel immediate satisfaction when seeing your results. Scheduling your child’s ear pinning during summer or another school vacation means they can heal without concerns about still-visible swelling or bruising.
Am I a Good Candidate for Ear Pinning?
Adults and children over the age of five usually make good candidates for ear pinning. This procedure will benefit those with ears that protrude or look too large. Candidates should be in good health and have reasonable expectations. Dr. Farole has experience working with children to help them understand and feel confident about the procedure.
Dr. Anthony Farole is the best. I came in very scared and afraid. Dr. Farole and his wonderful staff were very patient with me and helped calm me down. They reassured me that i would be fine and took very good care of me. I felt no pain and the procedure went very smooth. Thank you so much for a job well done!
Take the Next Step
Are you interested in learning more about ear pinning? Schedule a consultation at Dr. Farole’s Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center in Bala Cynwyd, PA by giving us a call at (610) 668-3300 today.