Ear Surgery in Denver, CO

Overly prominent ears can detract from a patient’s other features, causing self-consciousness. Otoplasty (ear surgery) corrects asymmetry and imbalance, creating a more harmonious appearance while enhancing confidence.

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Ear Surgery Overview

Otoplasty Transformation

While many patients hardly give any thought to the appearance of their ears, others may feel that their ears stick out or are misshapen or asymmetrical. With children, in particular, large ears can be the source of taunting and bullying, negatively impacting their self-esteem and quality of life. Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, is a surgical treatment that reshapes the ears by extracting excess cartilage. The procedure also has the ability to address birth defects and redefine deformities that have resulted from injury or trauma.

Why Choose The LaVie Institute of Plastic Surgery for Ear Surgery?

Patients who choose The LaVie Institute enjoy access to the combined expertise, artistry, and precision of our four board-certified plastic surgeons, who provide individualized care in a world-class accredited practice setting. We understand that each patient is on a unique life journey, and our goal is always to support the client’s wishes for aesthetic improvement while optimizing their overall wellbeing. Our detailed, personalized approach results in balanced, natural-looking outcomes that are ideal when undergoing a facial procedure as complex as otoplasty.

What is Otoplasty?

According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, approximately 40,000 otoplasty treatments are carried out every year, demonstrating that ear pinning is a common procedure for both children and adults. Protruding ears are a trait that is often passed down over generations. They can be the source of negative attention and taunting at school, affecting a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Otoplasty is designed to address irregularities in the shape, size, and projection of the ears. Once the patient’s ears are balanced with their other facial features, the appearance is vastly improved, restoring a more positive self-image. Adults who undergo the procedure find that they can enjoy a wider range of hairstyles and can do away with hats and scarves that obscure the ears.

What Can I Expect From The Procedure?

For young children, surgery can be an anxiety-inducing experience. For these young patients, it is usually recommended that they undergo general anesthesia prior to their otoplasty procedures. For adolescents and adults, IV sedation and local anesthesia usually suffice.

During surgery, excess ear cartilage is removed, and any issues with the earlobes are corrected. The goal of any otoplasty procedure is to create a balanced, attractive result that preserves the patient’s unique anatomy and beauty while achieving their desired look.

Can Otoplasty Be Combined With Other Procedures?

Otoplasty can often be performed in tandem with other popular facial procedures, such as rhinoplasty, a facelift, chin augmentation, a brow lift, or blepharoplasty. Adult patients that are seeking an enhanced procedure can benefit from a personalized treatment plan that achieves all of their cosmetic goals in just one session.

Earlobe Repair

For patients struggling with torn, split, or stretched out earlobes due to an injury or oversized jewelry, we can perform strategic earlobe repair surgery, restoring the ear contours to an aesthetically pleasing condition.

Earlobe reconstruction surgery can address:

Drooping earlobes from years of heavy jewelry
Earlobe lacerations from infection or poor piercing techniques
Congenital earlobe deformities
Traumatic earlobe injury and scarring
Concerns related to large earlobe gauges

Our World-Class Accredited Facility

Patients at The LaVie Institute receive treatment in our state-of-the-art 8-room clinic and 2 onsite accredited operating theaters, replete with the latest in advanced technology. For hand and reconstructive procedures we operate out of our hospital-based clinic, affiliated with the Swedish Medical Center and other cutting-edge surgical centers in the area. We strive to provide a seamless, stress-free experience that is both rewarding and revitalizing. No question is too trivial for our team to answer in depth and no concern is left unaddressed by your detailed treatment plan.

What Are the Benefits?

Some of the benefit of ear surgery include the following:

Can address birth defects
Pins the ears back closer to the scalp
Redefines and brings harmony to the ears
Boosts self-confidence
Can be performed on young children as young as four years old
Results are long-lasting

Who Is A Good Candidate?

Candidacy for otoplasty is less stringent than other procedures, as it can be performed on patients of virtually all ages (children, teens, and adults). As with any procedure, ideal candidates are non-smokers in good physical and mental health who have realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure. Performing an otoplasty requires that the ears be fully grown, which usually happens at around 4 or 5 years of age. Carrying out the surgery before a child starts elementary school is usually preferable.

What will Ear Surgery Recovery Entail?

Following the surgery, patients are prescribed the appropriate pain medications and provided with a post-procedure plan that gives further information on incision care, bathing, resuming exercise, and returning to work or school. Patients may be fitted with a bulky dressing that stays in place for about 3 days, protecting the redefined ear shape and reducing any swelling. Bruising and redness usually dissipate within about 7 to 10 days following the procedure. Most adults can return to work only a week after the procedure.