Is It Possible To Fix An Overcorrected Otoplasty Surgery From 16 Years Ago?

Revision otoplasty is a much less common procedure as it is rare for people to seek under correction of their previously pinned back ears. They assessment requires a thorough examination as there are different techniques that the original surgeon could have employed to achieve the results and the ones involving cutting the cartilage are more difficult to reverse versus the suture techniques that are easier to adjust and reverse in future. That is one of the reasons I almost exclusively use suture techniques in my otoplasty surgeries to also account for such future considerations too. The good news is that in the hands of experienced otoplasty surgeons at least some improvements can be expected regardless of the original technique.

There are several different ear operations and different things that can be done so a lot depends on specifically what kind of surgery you had and what was done to the cartilage. In general, typically the ears will not be fully pulled around like a non-operated ear after any otoplasty.
If it does not settle or improve to your satisfaction, I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of otoplasty surgery if you want a second opinion and of course, make sure you follow up with your own surgeon and talk about this if you have concerns that linger. 
I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.  

Thank you for your question and for your photos. Based on your photos provided, you are an ideal candidate for revision otoplasty. I would advise you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination to discuss all possible treatment options and what your expectations are. 

Thank you for the question.
Yes these are most certainly correctable. I would suggest that rib cartilage grafts would be required to reform and support the smooth gentle curve of the normal antihelical fold.
I hope this helps.
Dr. Callum Faris

Hello Realself user,
A revision otoplasty is possible for those who wish to have one. I personally use my own technieuqe which is called the flap technique. When using the flap technique you minimize the chance of your ears to grow back to your old ears.
Best of luck.
TAS Aesthetic Surgery Clinic

Great question.  It is definitely possible to reverse an over corrected otoplasty.  In man cases otoplasty is done by the "Mustarde" technique which places a permanent stitch to hold a protruding ear back in a more appropriate position.  If this is the case, it would be possible to remove and replace that stitch in a better position.  It is difficult to tell in photos, but I believe it is possible to correct the position of your ears to somewhere in between where you started and where you are now.  Consult with a facial plastic surgeon who is experienced in otoplasty and ear reconstruction to learn more about the specific approach or procedure that would be best for you.  

As others have stated, this is an uncommon request as most patients are concerned with the ears remaining too prominent after surgery. The situation can likely be improved, but will be highly dependent on a physical exam and probably even the intra-operative findings during the procedure. The amount of skin that is present, the skin laxity, the pliability of the cartilage, and the amount of cartilage that may have been removed are all factors that will contribute to possible improvement.
A facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon specializing in facial aesthetics would be your best option for a consultation to discuss the procedure in detail.
All the best,

Thank you for sharing your photographs and questions.  It appears that the otoplasty procedure may have resulted in over–correction of the deformity.  Unfortunately, this is a relatively uncommon problem that may occur after any aesthetic surgical procedure.  Whether or not this problem is correctable would rely heavily on a thorough physical examination from an experienced otoplasty surgeon.  I would recommend you consult with a board–certified otolaryngologist, facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with otoplasty surgery, including revision otoplasty.  I hope you find this information helpful.Good luck,Dr. Harmych

Interesting problem. It sounds like the sutures may be too tight if you are able to correct your ear position manually. If this is the case then a revision would be fairly straightforward and would involve releasing the existing sutures and replacing them with new ones at a more appropriate tension. There are many techniques for otoplasty however, so without actually seeing the OR report from your surgery or examining you it is tough to give specific advice.

Occasionally, patients who undergo
otoplasty surgery require secondary revisional surgery.  This type of surgery can be performed
when residual deformities are present, but can be difficult because of residual
scarring and post-surgical anatomic changes.

When there’s no separation between
the ears and the side of the head, revision can be accomplished by releasing
structural sutures and removing excess scar tissue.  In the majority of cases this allows the ears to spring
forward and this results in a more normal appearing ear.  Occasionally, structural sutures need
to be replaced to re-create the contour of the ear.

Consultation with a board certified
plastic surgeon is appropriate. 
This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan to correct
this problem.