Otoplasty Artistry & Ear Surgery ~ Best Gift Ever! Thank You Dr. Steven Svehlak! - Los Angeles, CA

At 37 years old, all I can say is, "Better late than never" but I also know just how difficult it was to try and find the best plastic surgeon. My journey took time, hopefully you can read my recommendation and save yourself any additional and unnecessary agony. I'm also very cautious about any type of operation and live by the motto: "Better safe than sorry" for as asymmetrical and prominent that my ears were, in the wrong surgeon's hands, they could be much worse.

I've dreamed of having Otoplasty since I was a kid. Relentless teasing and jokes followed me even into adulthood. I've always had prominent "Big" ears, but in addition to that I also had my left ear "yanked out" in a fight when I was 15 that made that ear noticeably asymmetrical in-person and oddly even worse in photos. The angle of my left ear was dramatically different from my right due to a missing antihelical fold or antihelix which would need to be re-created.

The morning of my otoplasty procedure, I was to pick up my antibiotics and vicodin at the pharmacy before coming to the office. Conveniently, my prescriptions had been called in for me in advance by Dr. Svehlak's office, also conveniently the pharmacy is on the ground floor of the Sunset Cosmetic Surgery building. Upon arrival, photos were taken from every angle. As instructed I took 1 antibiotic and the procedure was done under local anesthesia. I slept through the operation, only waking up from time to time to check in then back to sleep. The entire procedure only took a few hours and I didn't feel a thing. I went home with instructions to return the next day to make sure everything was evolving properly. I was impressed that Dr. Svehlak would come in on a Saturday to check my sutures and how I was feeling. I mentioned that the vicodin was making me nauseous and he promptly had his office call in a prescription for percocet instead which agreed with my stomach more.

My left ear was more sore and swollen but I could see the very natural antihelix fold that had been created. I refrained from the gym for 2 weeks as instructed. I consumed only fresh-pressed vegetable juice for the next 12 days which helped my body heal very quickly. After a week Dr. Svehlak removed my dissolvable sutures from the small incisions behind my ears. Now 6 weeks later, my ears are still a little sensitive but they appear completely healed. I'd say I'm 90% healed. I resume my daily exercise and swimming. I wear a simple velcro surgical head wrap to bed each evening still (and probably will continue to do so for a few more months.) My ears look so great, so natural, and I feel so great. I always used to wear a hat or a beenie cap to disguise my "goofy" ears that just distorted the proportions of my face. Now I'm a new man!