La Jolla Ear Surgery doctors

	Tom J. Pousti, MD San Diego Plastic Surgeon 8851 Center Drive Suite 300, San Diego		56 answers
	Roy A. David, MD San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon 3252 Holiday Court Suite 206, La Jolla		3 answers
	Richard Chaffoo, MD San Diego Plastic Surgeon 9850 Genesee Ave. Suite #480, La Jolla		1 answer
	Johan E. Brahme, MD San Diego Plastic Surgeon 9850 Genesee Avenue, Suite 130 Ximed Building, La Jolla
	Paul E. Chasan, MD San Diego Plastic Surgeon 1431 Camino Del Mar , Del Mar

Recent Answers

Choosing a Well Qualified Otoplasty Surgeon for Revision? I want a revision otoplasty as my original several years ago was undercorrected / relapsed. How do I choose a qualified surgeon? I met with a national expert on facial plastic surgery who has been around for decades and written many books and articles. He assured me he has done many of these operations over the years and had about a 1/2 dozen B&As to share. I liked his work but wonder if it's critical to choose a doctor who specializes only in ears to perform my case as it is a revision. Thanks!

A: Otoplasty Revision Surgeon Selection?

Thank you for the question.

No, it is not “critical to choose a doctor who specializes only in ears” (you probably won't be able to find an “only ear specialist”) to perform your revisionary otoplasty surgery. It is important however to find a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who can demonstrate significant experience with otoplasty surgery.

I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

I Ripped my Scab off 1 Week After my Ear Otoplasty Surgery is This Gonna Be a Problem? I Ripped my Scab off 1 Week After my Ear Otoplasty Surgery is This Gonna Be a Problem?

A: Otoplasty Healing?

Thank you for the question.

Unfortunately, without direct examination is not possible to give you good advice or any real reassurance. Follow-up with your plastic surgeon will be important for direct examination and treatment.

Be very careful about avoiding any further manipulation and/or trauma to the area.

Best wishes for an otherwise and eventful recovery.

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Born With "Flat Tipped' Ears, Can Otoplasty Fix The Helix? (photo) I recently had a consultation with a plastic surgeon about having otoplasty. I was born with "flat tipped" ears, so my helix never truly formed into the full circular outline that normal people have. My ears protrude slightly, but they also have the flat tops making my ears larger and i have no fold in the top part of my ear. The surgeon said that she can create the fold to attain the more natural look and pining, could she fix the helix too? Or does that require grafting, etc? I forgot to ask!

A: Otoplasty Details?

Thank you for the question and pictures.

I think the major issue involving your ears is the lack of a anti-helical fold. Reconstruction of this fold will set the ears back slightly and create the impression of a smaller ear as well. This is done through an incision behind the ear, using permanent sutures to create the anti-helical fold, with no visible scarring.

I do not think you need any surgery on the helix itself; I would certainly not suggest that you have any procedure that would result in visible scarring.

Otoplasty surgery carries risks of recurrence of the prominence, recurrence of the “flat” appearance of the ears, potential palpability of sutures, ear asymmetry, numbness and the potential need for further surgery (as well as the other general risks associated with surgery).

Make sure you are working with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. See lots of examples of his/her work.

Best wishes

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon