Why do kids have bulging ears? How true are the allegations that this is due to improper lying during the pregnancy of the fetus? At what age is ear plasty allowed and how is it done? You can find answers to all these questions in this article.
What is deafness?
Lop-eared is a violation of the angle of attachment of the cartilage, or the proliferation of cartilaginous tissue of the auricle, in other words, an anatomical feature. In most cases, this is a family “trait”. In addition, there is a version that protruding ears are formed due to improper lying during pregnancy. However, it is quite controversial and most experts do not support it.
Some people think that small deafness can be corrected at an early age by fixing ears overnight with a medical patch. This is a naive mistake, and far from safe - the patch can lead to deformation of the auricle, as well as provoke inflammatory processes on the skin. Thus, correction without a procedure such as ear surgery is impossible.
Types of otoplasty
- Reconstructive plastic is used to restore the entire auricle or individual missing sites.
- Aesthetic plastic - performed to give the auricle an aesthetic appearance.
Indications
- An increase in the angle between the auricle and the skull, which normally should not exceed 30 °.
- Repeated plastic surgery of the ear in children, if the results of the first operation for the patient were unsatisfactory.
- Lop-eared.
- Plastic surgery of the earlobe during its deformation or underdevelopment.
- Irregular shape of the auricle is bilateral or unilateral.
- Complete or partial, acquired or congenital absence of the auricle.
Contraindications
- Blood clotting disorder.
- Some clinics do not undertake surgery during menstruation.
- Oncological diseases.
- Diabetes.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the middle or outer ear.
- Acute infectious diseases.
Analyzes
- Fluorography, electrocardiogram.
- General analysis of blood and urine.
- Blood test for markers of viral hepatitis, syphilis, HIV.
- Coagulogram, biochemical blood test.
Anesthesia
Plastic surgery of the ears for children, like any other operation, requires anesthesia. It is prescribed by the doctor, depending on the state of health, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient. As a rule, this operation is performed on an outpatient basis using anesthesia.
For children, as a rule, general anesthesia is used, since with local children are not able to remain completely motionless for a long time. For adults and adolescents, ear surgery is performed under local anesthesia.
The essence of the operation
A small incision is made from the inside of the ear so that no further visible traces remain. Then cartilage is released, which is cut in a certain way. This is done with a scalpel or laser. Unlike
scalpels, the laser has a number of indisputable advantages: it allows you to act more accurately and precisely, after cutting the tissue there is a quick "sealing" of blood vessels, so there is practically no blood loss in this case.
After that, cartilage is fixed in a new place, cosmetic sutures are applied to the skin , special surgical self- absorbable sutures are used for these purposes. Similar manipulations are done with the second ear.
The wound surface is treated with a special antiseptic ointment, a sterile dressing and compression tape are applied. On average, an operation such as plastic surgery of the ear lasts about 60 minutes. It happens more, but this does not mean that some unforeseen circumstances arose.
Laser otoplasty
Laser plastic surgery of the ear (photo below) will make them not only neat, but also prevent swelling after surgery. In addition, the laser scalpel, in comparison with the surgeon’s hand, acts more plastic and precise. The main function of a specialist is to open the auricle, after which a laser beam is launched into action, which strengthens the blood vessels. Such an operation lasts an average of 30 minutes. Then, after a set of measures, a bandage is applied, which is removed after a week.
Despite the fact that this operation is not complicated, a rehabilitation period is provided after it. It will be necessary to wear a special bandage, thereby protecting the most vulnerable places from infection and water. As a rule, otoplasty does not lead to complications, but in rare cases it can cause skin diseases and an allergic reaction. In this regard, doctors advise treating the area of the auricle with a special solution.
Postoperative dressing
Immediately after the operation , a gauze napkin is applied, which is fixed with a bandage. It must be worn without removing it for six days. Then the compression dressing is worn only during sleep. Thus, it is necessary to go with her for at least two weeks.
Dressing after surgery must be done the next day. Subsequent dressings are at the discretion of the attending physician. If the seams are not self-absorbable, then they are removed after about seven days. After a month, you can begin to carefree activities.
It is also worth noting that such an operation does not affect the hearing in any way, despite the fact that it can cause hematomas and swelling. And in order to accelerate the rehabilitation period, standard procedures can be supplemented with hardware cosmetology, physiotherapy and many others.
The cost of otoplasty
Prices for otoplasty will be approximate, so more accurate ones should be found directly at the place of operation.
So, elimination of deafness on average can cost you from 11,000 to 150,000 rubles. With full or partial restoration of the auricle, spend from 14,000 to 240,000 rubles.
Plastic earlobes will cost 3000-50000 rubles. A decrease in the size of the auricle - from 12,000 to 60,000 rubles.
If we are talking about laser surgery, then it is valued at 30,000-80000 rubles.
Again, all prices are approximate. Here is the average result, so somewhere it may be more expensive, somewhere cheaper. However, this should be enough to present the general picture.
Where to make plastic ears?
In most cases, they are searched through friends. Also, information on plastic surgery centers can be found on the Internet - on the sites there are reviews of specialists, ratings. Having preferred one or another center, before taking their child there, it is advisable for parents to get to know the surgeon. Talk with a specialist, ask to show the portfolio of his patients before and after otoplasty, and also find out the number of operations performed per month.
Ear surgery: reviews
If you decide to undergo such an operation for your child, then first of all you do not need to save on this. Do not do otoplasty in dubious clinics in which you were asked to solve your problems for nothing. After all, this can cost several times more expensive, and not only financially, but also for health reasons.
As for the reviews, if you do the operation in a good clinic and if it is performed by a good specialist, you should not worry about the consequences. They will do everything in the best possible way. After all, reputation is important to them, and absolutely no one needs problems due to such a simple operation.
Another question is whether you followed all postoperative requirements. They didn’t remove the bandage, they didn’t let you pull your ears, especially in the first few months after the operation. We slept the first month in a bandage and on my back. If you kept everything, then after otoplasty your ears will definitely not protrude again.
Thus, to summarize, it should be noted that if you contact the well-established center of plastic surgery and will strictly comply with all the requirements, you will not have any problems.