Otoplasty surgery is most commonly performed  to correct ears that protrude outward on children and adults.  Children, especially,  are affected by this genetic condition, both physically and emotionally.  Children as young as age 5 can undergo an otoplasty because the ears have reached almost full growth by that age.  Local anesthesia is used for the one to three hour procedure, and bandages are applied to the head afterwards.  Stitches are removed after one week.  Children recover after about one week, and most adults return to work after five days.

Repair of a Split Earlobe

A split earlobe may occur as a result of the weight of heavy earrings on pierced ears or by trauma that has been incurred, such as an earring being pulled from the ear.  Dr. Patronella usually can repair split earlobes using special sutures that minimize scarring.  This can be performed as an outpatient procedure in about one hour with the use of local anesthesia.  Your stitches will be removed after four to five days, and your ear may be pierced again after three weeks.