Had ears pinned almost 6 years ago and I really want my cartilage pierced. Will it affect the surgery?

Question

Will it affect the surgery? Or cause any problems?

P. Daniel Ward, MD · Answer

Ear pinning surgery or otoplasty is usually done, at least partially, with sutures that hold the ear in proper position until it has scarred into place.  After several months, the ear is held in its new shape through your body's own scar tissue.  Having the ear pierced after a year or so probably will not likely cause any issues with the ear protruding again.

Waldemar Merck, MD · Answer

Hello Chloe12345.You have to ask the surgeon that performed the otoplasty whether he used absorbable or non-absorbable threads. If they were absorbable threads, you can go ahead with the piercing, as the threads would’ve long since dissolved in the meantime. If, on the other hand, non-absorbable threads were used, as is often the case today with the traditional otoplasties and generally with the stitch method, then it depends on where the threads  lie in the ear. If the piercing is made at a place in the ear where the threads are, then the threads can be damaged and the ear can protrude again at this place. If the piercing is going to be made in the earlobe and this wasn’t pinned, then it doesn’t matter what threads were used and what method the ear was pinned with, because there wouldn’t be any threads in the earlobe at all.

Had ears pinned almost 6 years ago and I really want my cartilage pierced. Will it affect the surgery?

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