Everyone has an identifying feature. It’s that special uniqueness that makes you memorable. For some of us it’s the eyes. For Barbara Streisand, it’s the nose. Julia Roberts is known for that gorgeous smile.
But unfortunately, some features don’t always work in our favor. One of the most memorable areas of the face are the ears, because if there is anything abnormal about them, like protrusion off the face, it is easily noticeable.
Deformed ears or ears that protrude can be distracting and can throw off facial balance. What many people with this issue don’t know is that otoplasty (aka ear pinning) is an option.
Otoplasty is a procedure that aims to correct an imperfection to improve appearance. This cosmetic ear surgery can impact the shape, position and size of the ears, but the most popular purpose is to reduce the protrusion of the ears.
The procedure itself takes place on the outer ear. Doctor Jean-Paul Azzi, a double-board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon located near Palm Beach, Florida, commonly performs ear pinning. He explains that the surgeon will likely remove cartilage and skin from behind the ears when placing the permanent sutures that hold the ears back.
One of the best parts about the ear pinning procedure is there is really no downtime. Patients can return to their regularly scheduled programming immediately following their appointment. Patients are even allowed to travel directly after. Aftercare can vary from patient to patient but level of effort is typically very low.
There are a few different types of otoplasty and most of them can be performed by the doctor under local anesthesia only. This, of course, can differ by age.
Click here to learn more about otoplasty for children.
At The Palm Beach Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery, Dr. Azzi and his team strive to provide patients with natural results. Doctor Azzi is an expert in cosmetic ear surgery. He travels all over the world reconstructing children with deformed ears using their own ribs as grafts. He has also authored chapters on the subject in plastic surgery textbooks.
If you are considering ear surgery, Dr. Azzi of The Palm Beach Center for Plastic & Laser Surgery can discuss the benefits and risks with you in great detail.
Call us for a complimentary virtual or in-person consultation at (561) 429-5403 or click here to contact us online.