Is an Elastic Headband Important And/or Necessary After Otoplasty?

Be sure to check with your surgeon regarding post-operative care. Each surgeon will have their own recommendations for any procedure, including otoplasty. My otoplasty patients are instructed (after the post-surgical wrap is removed) to wear their headband as much as possible for the first two weeks after surgery (day and night). For the next two weeks, patients are instructed to wear the headband at night, and as much as they would like to during the day. After one month, my patients are instructed to wear the headband as needed or for comfort.
All the best,

I am a proponent of headbands after otoplasty for the following reasons:


Protects ears from trauma

Encourages ears to heal in a more predictable manner

Avoids ears healing more forward due to retroauricular edema

The headband is a way to stabilize the ear after otoplasty. The band does not by itself position the ear, but more acts to prevent trauma to the ear and to support the healing process.  I ask my patients to wear the headband only at night to prevent pressure and folding of the ear while sleeping.   My patients wear the headband for only a few weeks. 

Although different surgeons have different recommendations my personal preference is to use a head band for the first 6 weeks when you are in your home and at night to take tension off your internal repair as it heals and also for protection. Ask your plastic surgeon about his preference.

There is a operation that does not require a head bandage because it is minimally invasive and the only wounds are tiny pinpricks. The name of this method is Dr Merck´s stitch method - an new alternative otoplasty. 

It is best to ask your surgeon his/her protocol for healing as they performed your surgery and know exactly what was done.We generally recommend that our patients wear a soft head band (not tight) to protect their ears for 2 weeks after surgery. Two weeks after the otoplasty, I recommend that the soft headband be worn at night and for any physical activity where the ears are at risk for being hit or pulled.Complying with these instructions will help ensure the permanency of the otoplasty surgery.

Thank you for the question.

You may want to check with your surgeon to make sure a discussion about the headband was not forgotten about during your  follow-up visit. I use the headband after otoplasty surgery not as a “necessity” but as a “protection”,  especially useful when patients are sleeping.

Best wishes.

Each doctor has his post operative plan. If your doctor has had a good experience with this protocol then follow his instructions since he performed the surgery. I personally have my patients wear a head band for a month after surgery as much as possible and then another two weeks at night.

 

Good luck!

First, check with your doctor to be sure there wasn't an oversight.  Personally, I have patients wear a head band for about a month to help with swelling, and to ensure no "accidents" especially while asleep.

 

sek

Thank you for your question. I typically have my patients wear a head wrap for 3-4 days after surgery and then wear an elastic bandage or headband at night for another week for protection. It certainly doesn't hurt to be overly careful but maybe your surgeon doesn't feel that this is necessary. In addition to protecting your ears at night, be very careful with pull-over shirts for a couple of weeks. I recommend button-down shirts for at least two weeks as I had a patient tear open his incision one week after surgery while pulling a shirt over his head.