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Safe to Play Contact Sports After Otoplasty?

asked 3 years ago by lefthook in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 1,960 times
Tags: fitness, sports

I want to have my ears pinned back and was wondering if i would still be able to participate in contact sports such as boxing if i had this done?

10 answers to Safe to Play Contact Sports After Otoplasty?

+5

Contact Sports After Otoplasty

Each patient will heal differently. Most patients are restricted for 6 weeks, and then the restrictions will ease as the patient heals. Follow the lead of the surgeon.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drkrisreddy.com

+2

Actibity restrictions after otoplasty

Activity and sports are restricted afer surgery to allow uninterrupted healing in the ears' new positions which are maintained entirely by stitches. AS the healing proceeds, typically for about 6 weeks, activity can be increased and return to normal.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Contact sports can injure your ear

Boxing or other sports where direct trauma to the ear is possible can causing hematomas and permanent deformity.  After an Otoplasty I like my patients to refrain from engaging in any activity that may injure the ear for at least 6 weeks.  After that time it is prudent to protect the ear from direct trauma to avoid ear deformity.
Robert Mounsey, MD

Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Contact sports and otoplasty

After otoplasty it is a good idea to avoid getting the ears smacked for a month or so. This typically means no boxing, wrestling, cage fighting, etc. Long-term the ears are fine for any kind of sport.
Sam Naficy, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

It all depends on how long ago you had Otoplasty

It all depends on how long ago you had the procedure. Your wound slowly accumulates its previous strength but it will never be as strong as it was. The max strength that you get compared to native untouched skin or tissue is 89%. This is based on studies that test wound strength through tension experiments that test at what point a wound was likely to come a part. After your procedure, you will gain 60% at 6 weeks, 80% at 6 months, and 88-89% at 2 years. So, it takes a while to regain... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Contact sports yes, boxing no

If you are going to go through the time, energy and costs of having an otoplasty, the worst thing you could do afterwards is have someone potentially directly strike the ear. At the very least this will certainly cause a distortion of the ear, and at worst, completely destroy the otoplasty. Other sports like soccer, basketball, etc, are fine after a few months, but I would recommend no more boxing if you have this procedure done.
Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Avoid contact sports at least 1-2 months after ear surgery

Hi, Thank you for your question. Contact sports or any activity that could damage your ears should be avoided for at least one to two months. In a high contact sport such as boxing, you may want to give it even more time to avoid the risk of damaging your ears. Ultimately, there is always a risk with boxing of ear trauma since it is quite a violent sport. Thanks for your question. Have a great day! Best regards, Dr. Speron
Sam Speron, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes.

You will want to wait a few months to allow full healing.  Premature injury to the ears after otoplasty could damage the repair with little to correct it.  Your surgeon will guide you. sek
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Permanent otoplasty sutures can break during contact sports

I agree with Dr. Waldman. I would just add that contact sports can lead to more than just suture breakage. Revision surgery is not always as successful as the first procedure and it is best to avoid it, if possible. 
Kevin Ende, MD

Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Boxing should be out of the question

I restrict my patients from contact sports for at least three months after an Otoplasty procedure and I do not think that wrestling or boxing are a very good idea after the procedure regardless of the time interval.
S. Randolph Waldman, MD

Lexington Facial Plastic Surgeon

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