Otoplasty is a plastic surgical procedure that improves the position, shape, size, and symmetry of the ears. Incisionless Otoplasty is a minimally invasive technique that can be used in certain patients to correct the prominence of the upper portion of the ears. While not applicable to all imperfections of the ear, incisionless otoplasty limits the scarring on the back of the ear which can be advantageous in patients with a tendency toward unsightly or hypertrophic scarring.
Otoplasty, commonly referred to as ear pinning, is a standard plastic surgical procedure that corrects the ears’ position and shape. Otoplasty involves incisions, tissue manipulation, and cartilage reshaping/removal.
Much like other plastic surgical procedures, otoplasty has been subject to various misconceptions. In this post, we’ve busted the common myths about otoplasty.
Are your ears starting to sag or look deflated? Just like in other parts of your body, gravity always wins! (At least temporarily.) At some point, your earlobes may start to lose their firmness and elasticity and appear droopy and/or deflated. If you are not happy with how they look, you may want to consider a form of otoplasty in order to shorten and/or inflate your earlobes.
As with any other part of our body, our ears age, and deformities can develop over time. Although the ears are made of flexible fatty tissue, your earlobes will not be as sturdy or stiff as the cartilage on your nose or the upper parts of your ear. Because of this, it can be easily torn or stretched.
Other than aging and trauma, hanging or droopy earlobes (earlobe ptosis) can also be genetically inherited.
However, there are several ways for you to have your droopy earlobe treated that require that you consult an otoplasty surgeon.
Dr. Thorne is the Editor-in-Chief and the author of several chapters in Grabb and Smith's PLASTIC SURGERY, 7th Edition.
Ear Construction Chapter in PDF
