What is the pain level of an otoplasty?

Otoplasty is one of my favorite procedures!  It can be performed in an office setting for adolescents and adults,  and as an outpatient procedure in a surgery center for small children.  After performing many 100s of these procedures, we can report that the pain is generally tolerable and that discomfort in the first few days may be easily controlled with pain medicine use.  I require patients to wear a bandage for only the night of the procedure  -- it is removed the following day.All skin incisions are hidden in the crease behind the ear (never in front) and there is no suture removal necessary as the sutures placed are self-dissolving.Best of luck!

The pain from otoplasty tends to be mild to moderate and has largely resolved by 3-5 days post surgery. I always place a compression dressing over the ears for 2-3 days and this eliminates a fair amount of pain by immobilizing the ears and eliminating any tension on the ears/ incisions. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ear shaping surgery is usually performed in local anesthesia in adult patients. A long lasting local anesthetic with duration of 8-12 hours is used in our practice. Scar is placed behind the ear in the groove and is completely hidden. Dressing (head bandage) is applied for 24 h after surgery. Patient experience non to mild pain after surgery. Regular pain medications like Tylenol and Celebrex are used for postoperative pain management. You should have no worries about pain.Please discuss this issue with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck. 

Patients state that they have only mild to moderate pain up to three days after otoplasty surgery.  Pain worse than that is an indication that a complication has occurred. This would probably be a hematoma but is still relatively uncommon.

None of the doctors answering this question have encountered patients who experience anything but mild pain. The ear is rather insensitive and easily anesthesized with local anesthesia. Unless there is inadequate local anesthesia it is hard to imagine how otoplasty would be painful.It would be nice to have other patients confirm this.Please consult in person with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon prior to making treatment decisions.

My patients have never complained of the type of pain that you are describing.  Most find that they require mild pain medicines for a couple of days and have never regretted having the surgery.

The ear is a sensitive part of the body so it does hurt after surgery in that area.  But typically patients recover well.  In most of my patients, I do a local anesthetic block which lasts for several hours but most patients need to take some pain medications whether it is over-the-counter or prescription strength for a few days. 

The truth?? YES it hurts, is not unbereable pain, but it is really unonfurtable the first week. Does it worth it? Absolutely YES.Make sure you choose a board certified plastic surgeon with experience with this procedure. Look at before and afters until you find someone that usually gives the result you like.Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and discuss what will be the proper treatment to achieve the result you desires.Regards,Dr. Luis Redondo

 In our practice, otoplasty is performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Patients ears are Wrapped with a head bandage for the first day or 2 after the procedure. The ears are mild to moderately painful, but most patients experience some degree of throbbing sensation and have a little difficulty sleeping at night, just getting comfortable. Most patients take a few pain pills the first few nights after the surgery.

How strong the pain will be or how long it will last after an operation varies considerably from one patient to the other and will also depend on the technique used. With the invasive traditional methods by which big wounds are produced, the pain mostly lasts longer and is stronger than with the minimally invasive stitch method by which the wounds are only tiny stab incisions and needle stitch points.