Otoplasty Procedure: Incisionless Otoplasty Vs. Traditional Method

Is incisionless otoplasty better than the traditional open method? Is there less risk with incisionless otoplasty and how do the results compare? Also, why don't more plastic surgeons perform incisionless otoplasty?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by CForbin in California

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Incisionless Otoplasty

Incisionless otoplasty is a great method of reshaping prominent ears. It is not the method of choice in all patients, but I tend to use it in a majority of patients with excellent and long lasting results. Otoplasty has been divided in the past into cartilage cutting or scoring techniques or into molding techniques. The latter involves the placement of permanent stitches to mold the cartilage of the ear into the desired shape and set back the ear against the skull. The incisionless... more

Incisionless approach is attractive but offers less reliable long term results

The incisionless approach is attractive but offers less reliable long term results. When this is done you are totally dependent on the sutures to hold the look that you want most of the time. When you do it open, you allow the skin to take on the new form and scar tissue helps to make the changes more permanent. It can be done for minor changes but when your ear requires significant alterations the open approach is still minimally invasive and can be done without general anesthesia and... more

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Incisionless otoplasty (ear pinning) of prominent ears

What do you mean by incisionless otoplasty? I have heard of two different procedures: The first is neonatal molding, popularized in Japan, where special splints are made for newborn infants to "mold" the ears into place. This is only effective while maternal estrogens are circulating in the fetal bloodstream and make the infant ear cartilage supple. The other is the use of small Virutally invisible "stab" incisions in the ear in which permanent stitches are placed to... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Does "incision-less" otoplasty involve magic wands?

As you might suspect, so-called "incision-less" otoplasty involves multiple tiny incisions to try to accomplish what experienced plastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons do through the usual otoplasty incision behind the ear. This "blind approach" can work in a small subset of carefully-selected otoplasty patients, but mostly incisionless otoplasty is marketing hype. There are a lot of anatomic considerations to a properly-performed... more

Incisionless Otoplasty Has Significant Failure Rate

Incisionless otoplasty has a high failure rate. The ear cartilage tends to slowly stretch the sutures and move the ear back to its original position. This can also happen with a regular otoplasty but is much less likely because with the open technique, it is your body's own tissues that hold the ear in place after a couple months, not the sutures. The question really is, why even bother with the incisionless technique. The open technique usually results in... more

Incisionless otoplasty versus traditional methods

The best method for you depends completely on each ear. In our practice, when patients present for an otoplasty they usually have two different ears. Their ears may vary in shape, position, and size. If you are only interested in changing the contour of the ear or the rim, and incisionless otoplasty may be all that's necessary. However, if you would like your ears set back, a small incision behind your ear in the crease where your ear meets your scalp is necessary. more

Otoplasty Technique

I prefer the open technique that permits me to use multiple sculpting tools to balance the various elements of a patient's ear during my ear sculpture. This open technique features minimal swelling and bruising that I can demonstrate with early after surgery pictures. The "incisionless" otoplasty is a marketing hype that actually involves several small incisions. The antihelix fold is then bent with sutures. Fine if the ear problem is only a flat antihelix fold. Some claim... more

There are options

The procedure for the otoplasty depends on the kind of problem. The reason that most plastic surgeon do not offer incisionless otoplasty is because it only works on younger patients . After age 6 the cartilage is more firm and calissified and will reguire surgical correction

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

The scar from a setback otoplasty is hidden in the skin fold behind the ear.

So in essence it is a scarless procedure. Bad scarring can occur if the surgeon resects skin from the back of the ear in conjunction with the cartilage setback. With the open technique there is more control and greater ability to achieve long lasting results.

Incisionless otoplasty is an awesome procedure

Incisionless otoplasty is an awesome procedure for the right candidate who needs primarily the creation of an antihelical fold. This is the bend that sits inside the outer rim of the ear and its absence is the most common feature of protruberant ears. This procedure does not address the bowl of the ear which may also need to be addresse. Nevertheless, many surgeons do not understand this procedure which is a shame because when done properly, it is less invasive and as effective... more