Uneven ears after otoplasty? Need doctor advice. Do you think it can be fixed easily? (Photo)

Perfect symmetry does not exist and often there are minor variations between the two ears preoperatively. However, I think your situation has room for improvement especially in the superior poles. This can be achieved with a relatively minor in office procedure with some local anesthesia.

Good morning, thank you very much for your question, according to what can be seen in the photograph, the recommended procedure is an otoblastia to close the upper wing of the ears, the procedure consists of:Ear SurgeryOtoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting prominent or "protruding" ears.
The aim is to achieve a repositioning of the ears, closer to the head, and not absolute symmetry.
Otoplasty is usually performed in children from 4 to 14 years old who are dissatisfied with their ears, since in many cases it poses a problem at the level of social relationship, although it can also be performed in adults.BeforeIn the consultation the plastic surgeon will evaluate the problem to be corrected. Your general health will also be assessed and you will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for the procedure.
DuringOtoplasty is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia, its duration is given between 1 and 2 hours.
AfterAfter Otoplasty the ears may hurt for a few days. Returning to school or work is usually possible in 1 week, but you should limit physical activities for the first month.RisksComplications after an Otoplasty are infrequent and among them we can find: hematoma, infection or healing problems.ResultsAfter an Otoplasty, the result is not immediate, as in most procedures, but you have to wait for the edema to disappear. After that time, the results are usually permanent

Asymmetry can be fixed after Otoplasty by reducing the larger size and is usually not as involved as the initial surgery. However, it is good to get a second opinion before you proceed. That will give you peace of mind that you are making the right decision.RegardsDr. J

Perfect symmetry is impossible, but I do think that there is room for improvement with your current results. Revision otoplasty to bring in the superior pole of the ears (that's where I see the greatest issue), is a little trickier to do, but is still a fairly minor procedure. If you don't feel comfortable with your current surgeon, meet with a couple of other doctors to see what they think can be done. These are, however, generally fixable problems.All the best,
--DCP
Pearson Facial Plastic Surgery®

Because ears are often asymmetric to begin with some asymmetry after surgery is also common. This can often be addressed by a revision. There is one thing I noticed in the photos. One ear has a Darwinian tubercle which is a point along the edge. This may be the asymmetry you are talking about. I think the tops if both ears could stand to be brought closer to the side of your head.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  Based on your photographs, you should strongly consider having a revision otoplasty.  This decision should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you and your surgeon.   Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  

Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon
 

Having before photos for comparison would be extremely helpful in making a recommendation.  If there is improvement, I would recommend no further surgery.

Your surgeon is absolutely correct. Unfortunately, recurrence is a common issue with Otoplasty procedures. The sutures we use are strong, but they still occasionally break. Placing larger sutures is not a good option, as they will be palpable and annoying and would likely extrude through the skin.

Hey there Dr. Chao here, it can be easily fixed local procedure and take less than 1 hr. just need to put in an additional suture on the right side.

It is uncommon to have this amount of asymmetry of your ears from an otoplasty procedure.  It is important to know what technique he performed and what was the pre operative appearance of your ears.
Your right auricle is considerably different from the left in size, appearance, and amount of protrusion.

Discuss these issues with your surgeon.  They can be corrected under LOCAL anesthesia.