Can an ear fold surgery and a lower facelift be done together?

Question

Hi I am considering getting my ears pinned back and a lower face/ neck lift. In terms of scar management is it best to have these procedures done separatly or together. If they should be done separately, which operation should come first, in terms of optimal scar management and ease of access to the area?

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

Ear pinning and lower face/neck lift can easily be done together.  The same scar is used and your recovery is all at the same time and there is only one anesthesia.  These are good procedures to combine.

Raymond E. Lee, MD · Answer

Thanks for posting your concerns.  A facelift/necklift and otoplasty can be performed together.  In fact the behind the ear incision for a facelift / neck lift can be used for the otoplasty.  So there is an advantage to doing it together.  If you have to separate the two i would perform the facelift first.  During a facelift, it requires the assistant to fold forward the ear during facelift surgery and this may compromise the otoplasty work.  Please consult a board certified plastic or facial plastic surgeon to go over you options.

Marisa Lawrence, MD · Answer

This would be the best time to address both issues.  During a facelift procedure, an incision is made behind the ear.  This is the same incision that is used for corrective otoplasty.

Frank Filiberto, MD · Answer

It would be best to separate the procedures. Although a Face/lower neck lift is done as sterile procedure as is the ear procedure. However there is always some contamination with the lift because we are working in the hairline. Infections rarely occur with facial procedures because of the rich blood supply. Ear surgery or Otoplasty involves working with cartilage with a poor blood supply subjecting it to poor healing and greater chance of infection, therefore it would be best to separate the two.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It is best to perform both procedures together, since the otoplasty procedure can be performed through  the very same incision as a facelift.

Pouria Moradi, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

There is no reason why you can't have both procedures performed at the same time.If you did want to stage the operation, then I would recommend doing the procedure that bothers you the most first.I hope this helps and good luck.

Andrew Kornstein, MD, FACS · Answer

There is no reason why they need be done separately, however, like everything in cosmetic/aesthetic surgery it is not "IF" but "HOW" that truly matters.best of luck

Howard N. Robinson, MD (retired) · Answer

Yes, but there may be a
little delayed healing of a week or two where all the incisions behind the ear
come together.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed Otoplasty (ear-shaping) and our short incision Facelift together without any issues.  This can easily be done together.  Hope this helps.

Can an ear fold surgery and a lower facelift be done together?

Answers (9)

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