Ear Pinning (Otoplasty) in Chicago

Below is a list of the most asked questions our doctors have encountered when meeting with patients. The answers below illustrate and summarize the information necessary for a patient to be well-informed.

Otoplasty typically costs $7,500-$9,000, with all fees included.

Unfortunately, no. It is considered a cosmetic procedure.

The procedure is typically performed under MAC/IV sedation which can be described as a “twilight sleep”.

Although otoplasty can be highly successful and beneficial for children at a much younger age, Gold Coast Plastic Surgery is currently accepting new patients at a minimum age of fourteen years old. In terms of older patients, overall health is a more important factor than age when determining candidacy.

In most patients, ear prominence is caused by the underdevelopment of the antihelical fold (a fold that is inside the outer rim of the ear), which is responsible for keeping the top third of the ear close to the head. Ear prominence may also be due to the ear shape and the firmness and angle of the conchal bowl (the hollow bowl of the ear next to the ear canal) against the mastoid bone. Patients can either have one or both congenital findings in the external ear, which will dictate which techniques are necessary.

In some cases, there is only one ear affected, and the contralateral (other) ear is in the ideal anatomical position. These patients can have just one ear set back. In most cases, both ears are affected to varying degrees. If only the most affected ear is set back and not the less affected ear, then the postoperative result will be very distracting and cosmetically asymmetric. It is often recommended to perform the surgery on both ears so that the position the ears are set back to will match and result in natural and pleasing ear appearance.

The first day following the procedure is when most of the discomfort is experienced. This is due to the need to have a compressive dressing worn over night to prevent the accumulation of blood. Once the dressing is removed a vast majority of the discomfort is relieved.

A dressing is worn through the first night after the surgery. This is removed the next morning. A “headband” must be worn only while sleeping at night during the first week of the recovery.

Typically there is not a significant amount of bruising following surgery. The ears will have a significant amount of swelling during the first 4 days following surgery. By day 7 the ears will retain approximately 20 % of the swelling but will be cosmetically acceptable with regards to public viewing. By week two the ears have less than 5% of swelling and have an excellent cosmetic appearance.

When the correction of the ears is accomplished with only a suture technique, it is possible for the condition to reappear. For this reason, adult ears may be overcorrected with the expectation that they will relax and settle into the ideal position with time. Because of this uncertainty and the need to weather a postoperative appearance that is slightly unnatural, Dr. Moynihan has developed a technique to prevent the recurrence of protruding ears, allowing them to ideally frame the face throughout the entire postoperative period.

• Hematoma is a risk of any suturing procedure. This risk is reduced with the use of dressings worn for the first 24 hours.
• Infection is also a risk of any suturing procedure. This risk is reduced using antibiotics during the first week of surgery and performing the procedure in a sterile environment (not an office setting.)
• Cosmetic asymmetry is possible after surgery, which may require revision. The ears should be within millimeters of each other following the procedure.
• Temporary numbness may follow surgery but should resolve within a few months.