Am I a Good Candidate for Otoplasty?

Otoplasty Sacramento is a blanket term that includes all surgeries performed on the outer ear, usually for aesthetic reasons. The most common otoplasty procedures are conducted to correct protruding ears or repair torn earlobes. Less-common otoplasty procedures involve reshaping the cartilage at the top of the ear, repairing damage from failed body modifications or shortening elongated earlobes.

If you are unhappy with your ears and believe you’re ready to address the issue, there are several factors that can affect your candidacy for otoplasty surgery.

Condition of Existing Tissue

If you have an injury to the ear that is disfiguring, it may be necessary to wait for the tissue to heal before attempting a reconstruction. In the case of failed body modifications, it is a good idea to wait until the body has healed up the worst of the damage before performing surgery.

Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule. Certainly seek our opinion regarding your individual case. If you’re interested in correcting protruding ears or having long earlobes shortened, these procedures can usually be done at any time.

Your Age

Most parents, upon seeing their child has malformed cartilage or protruding ears, want the issue corrected as soon as possible. However, surgery of this kind must be delayed until the ears are fully formed.

This usually happens by the time a child is four or five years old. It’s not uncommon to wait until a child is even older, especially if he or she is resistant to the idea of surgical correction.

As for adults, age is no barrier to otoplasty. If you’ve been unhappy with your ears for decades and want them repaired, age alone will not disqualify you. The cartilage of the ear remains soft enough for surgery throughout our lives.

Your General Health

Otoplasty is performed under a general anesthetic, meaning you will be put to sleep for the procedure. You will need to be in good health to withstand this and come away with a good surgical result.

If you have any diseases, syndromes or chronic conditions, speak to us about your eligibility for cosmetic surgery. It may be necessary to change your medications or take special precautions in consideration of your health status.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Deciding to undergo an otoplasty is a big decision and not one to make lightly. At Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center in Sacramento, we are here to help you every step of the way.

We’d be happy to explore your case and discuss your options with you. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.