San Francisco Ear Surgery

Considering Ear Surgery?

If you're lucky enough to have small ears that hug your head and no other ear problems, you may not give your ears much thought. If that's not the case, you may have been considering ear surgery for some time. Whatever your dissatisfaction with your ears, you should know that ear surgery is a relatively simple procedure with low risk and easy recovery.

What Causes Prominent Ears?

In the normal ear, the anti-helical fold, demonstrated by the arrow, bends the ear closer to the head.

The normal ear has a fold called the, 'anti-helical fold' in the middle of the ear. Prominent ears are caused either by underdevelopment of this fold, overdevelopment of the ear cartilage, or a combination of both.

The anti-helical fold bends the ear closer to the head. If this fold is underdeveloped, the ear will be oriented straight out from the head and appear more prominent.

When an underdeveloped anti-helical fold is the cause of prominent ears, San Francisco facial cosmetic surgeon Dr. Mabrie will create or augment the fold with permanent sutures placed under the skin through an otoplasty procedure.
 

Before

After

Before & After Otoplasty Example of young man with prominent ears caused by an underdeveloped anti-helical fold. After an otoplasty by Dr. Mabrie, the fold is better developed and the ears are less prominent.

Another cause of prominent ears is the overdevelopment of the ear cartilage close to the head. To repair this problem, Dr. Mabrie removes excess cartilage during the otoplasty.

Am I a Good Candidate?

Otoplasty is the medical name for the procedure that corrects protruding ears. If you're generally happy with your appearance but you feel your ears are too prominent, you're probably a good candidate for the procedure. If you're considering otoplasty for your child, the procedure can be performed as early as five years of age when the ears are fully developed. If your child is sensitive about their ears, especially if they're taunted by others, you may want to act soon to save them any long-lasting effects of ridicule. On the other hand, the American Society of Plastic Surgeon recommends not insisting your child have the procedure until they are ready. The ASPS suggests that children who welcome the change surgery will bring are more patient with the process and more satisfied with the result.

If you have damage to your earlobes from piercing, there's no reason to delay arranging the low-risk, uncomplicated repair. If keloid scars are the reason for your unsightly lobes, click to read more about keloid scar removal.

Before

After

Otoplasty in Children Frequently health insurance will cover the costs of otoplasty for children under 17. A good age to repair ears in children is after the age of 4 or 5, when the growth of the ear is complete and the child is old enough to refrain from touching the ear after surgery. Prominent ears in children may affect their self-image and become a source of teasing by others.

Why Choose Dr. Mabrie for My Ear Surgery?

Excellent Training, Double-Board Certification, Specialization in the Face and Neck

Dr. Mabrie specializes in facial cosmetic surgery for his San Francisco area patients. Completing medical school at the University of California at San Francisco with honors, his residency at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Stanford University, Dr. Mabrie has focused all his time and talents on plastic surgery for the face, head and neck. He has a thorough understanding of the anatomy of this complex area and has helped thousands of people feel much better about their appearance through facial cosmetic surgery and anti-aging treatments.

Dr. Mabrie follows in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Herman J. Mabrie III, a well-respected head and neck surgeon in Houston, Texas. After a distinguishing himself during his years of medical school and residency at Johns Hopkins, UCSF and Stanford, Dr. Mabrie received double-board certification from the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, (ear, nose, and throat).

Click to read Dr. Mabrie's full curriculum vitae.

How Will I Look?

Before

After

Clinical Example Example of young man before Otoplasty and 4 days following the procedure

If you decide to have otoplasty to correct protruding ears, you may feel a great sense of relief the first few times you look in the mirror and don't see your ears "sticking out." To you, the change may be dramatic and you may ask yourself why you waited so long to seek surgery. But keep in mind the procedure won't change your looks overall. Other people may not even notice your ears have changed.

The same can be said for the change you'll see if you decide to have Dr. Mabrie fix an unattractive earlobe. You will still be you, with a likely sense of relief that a problem area is no longer a problem.

Can I See My Results Before Surgery?

Dr. Mabrie uses computer imaging to demonstrate potential surgical changes.

Dr. Mabrie understands that choosing to have facial cosmetic surgery is a big step for many people.

What if you could see what the new you will look like before you decide? What if you could view before and after photos of your own San Francisco plastic surgery before your surgery?

Dr. Mabrie's computer imaging system makes this possible for you. In your initial visits with him, he will listen to your goals and concerns. He'll photograph your face from six angles, then, using computer software, show you how you will look with possible surgical changes. Click to find out more about computer imaging.

How Is Ear Surgery Performed?

Otoplasty takes about two hours. Adults usually have local anesthesia and go home the same day. Dr. Mabrie uses general anesthesia on children, to ensure they don't experience undue anxiety, which means they stay in the hospital for 24 hours after surgery.

Dr. Mabrie makes an incision behind the ear and trims away excess skin and cartilage. He puts stitches in the cartilage to create folds that weren't there before and makes small adjustments to give the ear a natural appearance. What it amounts to, in many cases, is "repositioning" protruding ears.

You don't need to be concerned about scars with otoplasty. The incisions are behind the ear and located within natural folds of the skin.

Surgery to repair earlobes is usually performed in-office with the patient under local anesthesia and takes about 45 minutes, depending on the extent of the injury. Patients may wear earrings again in about 8 weeks after surgery.

During otoplasty, a C-shaped incision is placed behind the ear and is usually invisible after surgery.

How Much Pain Is Involved?

Patients who choose to have ear surgery experience very little pain. With a full otoplasty, you may discover your ears feel tender for several weeks. An over-the-counter pain reliever is all you'll need.

How do I Prepare for Surgery?

If you're having otoplasty, you'll probably want to arrange a couple days off work because you'll be wearing bandages. Other than that, there's little preparation to worry about. For earlobe repair, it's even simpler. You can plan to resume your normal activities right away.

If your child is having otoplasty, you'll want to spend some time ensuring they feel ready. Tell them what the process will be like so they will know what to expect, and prepare them that they'll look a little different afterward. Let them know that you'll be with them at every step along the way. Dr. Mabrie's and his staff are experienced in helping children through otoplasty and they'll be resources for you as well.

Ear Surgery Recovery

What Is the Recovery Like?

You can expect some discoloration and swelling after otoplasty. Following surgery, you'll wear a turban-like dressing to protect your ears (adults for two days; children, five). After removal of the turban, you'll wear an exercise headband over your ears when you sleep for the next two weeks. Adults often resume normal activities the day after surgery. Children usually return to school in a week. You can wash your hair five days after the procedure, but you'll need to avoid strenuous exercise for three weeks.

If you're having earlobe repair, recovery consists of doing your part to help your small incision heal properly. You should be able to wear earrings again in about eight weeks.

If you're thinking about having a keloid scar removed or if you're prone to keloid scarring, discuss your ear repair with Dr. Mabrie. He is experienced in removing and minimizing the risk of keloids.

What Are the Next Steps?

It's natural to have many questions about facial plastic surgery. Our patient coordinator, Susan Cole, can address questions, assist with financing, and schedule your appointment. She can also talk with you about insurance. Since protruding ears is a congenital condition, it is covered by most insurance plans if the surgery is done by age 17.

You may want to give Susan a call at 415-445-9513 as your next step.

You can also learn more about payment options, click to visit our Fees & Financing page.

Dr. Mabrie performs otoplasty procedures for San Francisco patients and others throughout the Bay Area. Contact us today by sending an e-mail or giving us a call at 415-445-9513.