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Will Ears Grow in Size After Otoplasty?

asked 1 year ago by RUBI in BAKERSFIELD
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 800 times
Tags: permanent, results

hi i am getting ready to get married in september of 2011, i have always been self concious of my protruding ears, i recently went to have a consultation on otoplasty with a local surgeon he took 3 minutes to talk to me and did not answer the questions i had, he especially made me more nervous by tellimg me i cannot have it done now to wait untill august to get the look i want for the wedding because 6 months later my ears would look the same! i am going to waste $6000 for 5 months of happines?

22 answers to Will Ears Grow in Size After Otoplasty?

+3

Ear growth after otoplasty

Rubi, I'm sorry that you didn't have a better experience.  A well-performed otoplasty should yield a life-long improvement.  As far as ear growth is concerned there are numerous studies looking at peoples' ears as they age.  The evidence clearly indicates that ears to continue to grow even after body growth stops with men more affected than women.  What I can't answer is whether this normal age-related growth is interrupted after otoplasty.  For many... more
Mark Loury, MD

Fort Collins Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Results are permanent

A good otoplasty should give you permanent results. You have time to do it before your wedding. I think you need  a consult with another plastic surgeon  and take it fro there.
Moneer Jaibaji, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+2

Your otoplasty results should be permanent by the right surgeon

I am sorry to hear of your experience with the other doctor.  It sounds very much as if this surgeon does not perform many otoplasties if his experience is that they disappear so quickly.  In my experience, my results are permanent.  In less than 10% of cases I need to go back after a year and do a small degree of tightening but I have not seen an ear go back to where it started.  With the right surgical technique that should not happen.  Always review a... more
Samuel Lam, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.lamfacialplastics.com

+2

Otoplasty is a permanent procedure

Otoplasty is performed to change the shape and appearance of the ears.  Otoplasty is a permanent procedure. The underlying cartilage of the ear is what gives the ear its shape and appearance. In an otoplasty surgery, the cartilage is sculpted to change the shape of the ear.  Occasionally, skin and cartilage are removed as well.  This will depend upon the shape of your ear and the necessary correction.  I always aim to achieve a natural look and modify a procedure... more
Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Otoplasty to Correct Protruding Ears

Otoplasty is a permanent procedure utilized to correct protruding ears in both children and adults.  Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) is designed to correct protruding or disfigured ears in children and adults. The shape, position or proportion of the ear may be corrected. The goal is creation of a natural shape and position, improving the balance and proportion between the ears and face.  Full development of the ear is complete after age four.  Therefore, otoplasty can safely be... more
Anthony Corrado, DO

Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.dranthonycorrado.com

+2

Otoplasty and size changes.

In 35 years of doing otoplasties, I have never seen ears "grow".  I do children at 5-6 years of age and the ears do not grow. If the surgery is done properly the results last forever, not 6 months. Get another opinion from an experienced plastic surgeon.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Otoplasty results: are they permanent and do the ears keep growing?

Otoplasty is a safe and relatively simple procedure that should correct protruding ears and give you a permanent and natural result.  Otoplasty is performed on patients as early as 6 years of age.  That is because the ear has reached most of its adult size by this age and surgery at this age and beyond will not impair ear shape or size.  While otoplasty is a permanent procedure and should not result in a return of the ears to a preoperative appearance they do... more
Gregory Branham, MD

Saint Louis Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

The Ear Shape After Otoplasty Is Both Stable And Permanent

The ear position after otoplasty, if good surgical techniques are used, is both stable and permanent. The ear position is reshaped by cartilage folding and permanent sutures from an incision on the back of youy ear. While they may initially look a little too far back, they will relax slightly in a few weeks after surgery to a more natural shape and position. But relapsing back to where they were before the surgery is unheard of in my experience. Otoplasty is a relatively simple... more
Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon
+2

After Otoplasty Surgery, it's typical for your ears to protrude slightly (3-4 mm) over the first year following your surgery.

I read your concern. It sounds like you may want to consider consulting several certified, reputable facial plastic surgeons to discuss your proposed Otoplasty Surgery. Just about everyone's ears relax slightly over the first year following your surgery. This is not typically a problem from an aesthetic standpoint after well-performed Otoplasty Surgery. Your results will be permanent. You could have your surgery anytime from now till June. You should have the surgery at least 6 weeks... more
Eric M. Joseph, MD

West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ear growth

By age three, ears have obtained 85 percent of their adult growth. Other than that, otoplasty is a permanent procedure and there should be no disproportionate growth as you age.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Get another opinion

It sounds like you didn't get good advice at your consultation. I would suggest that you go onto the American Board of Plastic Surgery website and find an experienced surgeon who performs lots of otoplasty surgery and go see that surgeon. I perform otoplasty on young children (as young as 6 years old) to adults with lasting results. I have never heard of a surgeon telling a patient that the otoplasty results will only last 6 months. Do some more research! more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ear consult

Your results should be fairly stable and permanent following your surgery. Certain aspects of your ears will grow over 40 years but your shape should be stable. 
Marc Schneider, MD

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+1

What to expect with ear pinning surgery (otoplasty)

An otoplasty, if properly performed, should give you permanent results.  Your ears will not grow back.  There is a very small chance of recurrence (1-2%) You will see the results very quickly once the obvious swelling goes down.  By about the second week after surgery, you will look fine.  You can even look good enough at one week to return to work or school.  There is not that much visible bruising with this procedure after the first week. Please consult... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Expectations from an otoplasty

It does not sound like your experience with the surgeon was proper or very helpful and I would suggest that you obtain at least 1 or 2 more consultations with reputable board certified plastic surgeons and then select the one that you feel most comfortable with and have the most confidence with. Regarding the otoplasty, the results should last you essentially a lifetime in most situations. A small percentage may require a minor adjustment or replacement suture but this is not a 5... more
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ears Growing After An Otoplasty

Changes after an otoplasty should be permanent.  Key steps that make otoplasty more predictable and lasting in some surgeons than others: Permanent sutures-  Permanent sutures are best used in otoplasty.  Absorbable sutures do not create lasting changes in the ears. Structural changes to the ears-  Suture techniques alone do not create a lasting change to the ear.  In some cases, a fundamental change to the anatomic shape is necessary... more
Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Otoplasty

Otoplasty is a procedure performed to reshape the ears.  It is possible that the operation can result in a recurrence, where your ears go back to the original position, but this should be uncommon.  I would expect the results to be permanent, and not temporary.  Also, ear growth is usually complete by age 7 or 8 in most patients, so in an adult, the amount of ear growth is minimal.
Jeff Scott, MD

Everett Plastic Surgeon
+1

Otoplasty

The results from otoplasty are permanent and if you are an adult, your ears will not grow much more.  Good luck.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Otoplasty

The ears will not grow again until your senior years. What changes occur then are enlargement not protrusion. The result of a properly done otoplasty will last a lifetime.
Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD

Oakland Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Otoplasty or other facial plastic surgery should be at least 3-6 months before a wedding

Dear Rubi,  Sorry to hear about your unfortunate consult and experience.   Your question is "will ears grow in size after otoplasty?"   It depends on your age, but by 7- 8 years of age the normal ear is at least 85 % of an adult ear size. If you are old enough to get married, then the ear growth you will have will be minimal. Now is a good time to have an otoplasty to allow the healing to complete before the wedding Ear Reshaping (Otoplasty... more
Travis T. Tollefson, MD, MPH

Sacramento Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do ears grow after otoplasty?

Dear Rubi, It sounds like a bad consultation.  I think that you should seek another opinion.  The swelling will take a few months to settle after otoplasty, but the results are permanent.  The cartilage is remoulded to a more natural shape and will not grow or return to its original shape.
Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Protuding ears

I hope you misunderstood your surgeon. It does not make any sense. The connsult should be about one hour to answer all your questions and explain the procedure and the risks. The earlier you do the surgery before a major function the better. Find another plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery), who can give you the time and the care before and after.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ears don't grow - a good otoplasty is permanent

Dear lady,  advice # 1 : don't have an operation by a surgeon whom you don't trust, and who does not inform you well advice # 2 : have your operation at least 3 months before your wedding for swelling to go down and for allowing for any complication to settle. A well-performed bat-ear correction or otoplasty should last forever.
Alexis Verpaele, MD

Belgium Plastic Surgeon

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