If you have a cosmetic concern related to your ears, we invite you to get in touch with CCFPS to learn more about otoplasty and other treatment options.
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Ear Surgery
Experience You Can Trust
Dr. Jennifer Parker Porter is a facial plastic surgeon that has performed many otoplasty surgeries and has extensive experience with torn earlobe repair. Her work allows patients to look the way they want with a single focused and conservative surgery. Signs of procedures are not noticeable, results are predictable, and our patients are typically thrilled to begin wearing earrings again.
Dr. Porter offers her patients more than two decades of experience along with double board certification. She sits on the board of directors for the American Board of Otolaryngology and has performed thousands of procedures, earning herself a reputation for excellence that few practitioners can match. To learn more about what Dr. Porter can do for you, reach out to Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery in Bethesda, Maryland and set up your initial consultation today.
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Your Ear Surgery Experience
Same-Day Surgery
Patients who are exploring treatment for a torn earlobe may be able to have their procedure on the same day as the consultation. Otoplasty DC patients can schedule their surgery for a future date. These procedures generally take place on an outpatient basis.
Ensuring Your Comfort
Dr. Porter conducts procedures at the highly advanced Johns Hopkins Ambulatory Surgery Center in Bethesda, at SurgCenter of Silver Spring, at Montgomery Surgery Center and in Washington, DC at Georgetown University Hospital.
Surgical Technique
During an otoplasty, your surgeon will make an incision behind the ear just above the crease, allowing them to restructure the ear with sutures and recreate the folds of the ear. Other techniques may also be used to decrease the amount to which your ear sticks out.
After Your Otoplasty Surgery
Otoplasty usually takes one to two hours to complete. You can expect to wear a headwrap that will protect the incision sites after surgery, and you will likely experience swelling around your ears. We will see you back at our offices the day after your surgery so that we can change the dressing and, if necessary, remove any surgical drains.
You’ll return to Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery to have your sutures removed one week after your surgery, and you can expect to return to work and normal activities around this time, though some patients need up to 10 days to recover. We advise patients to take a break from exercising for at least three weeks and will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions before the day of your procedure.
Our Ear Surgery Results
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Ear Surgery FAQ
What’s the ideal age for ear surgery?
What are the psychological benefits of ear surgery?
What’s the ideal age for ear surgery?
Having the ears grow larger is a natural part of aging. Unfortunately, some people are born with ears that protrude more than average. In many cases, this can lead to decreased self-esteem and loss of confidence, especially if children are teased about the shape of their ears. Ear surgery is a great way to correct protruding ears and restore a more natural appearance.
Because of the possibility of teasing and bullying for children who have protruding or prominent ears, our surgeons recommend having ear surgery at the age of six in order to correct the issue. While it’s possible to correct ears later in life, by that point, the patient might be psychologically and emotionally damaged from the judgment they’ve faced from others. However, it is possible for otoplasty to be performed too early, before the ears have finished developing. For most children, our surgeons recommend thinking about ear surgery around the ages of six to eight. At this point, the ears will have reached maturity and can be manipulated without the risk of them further changing shape.
During ear surgery for children, your surgeon can work on a number of cosmetic defects, including:
- Ears that are the wrong size, position, or shape
- Shell ear, which is when part of the outer rim of the ear is missing
- Lop ear, which is when the ear tips fold down and forward
Overall, our surgeon’s goal is to create a natural-looking ear that can help your child grow up to be confident in their appearance.
What are the psychological benefits of ear surgery?
Patients who are unhappy with the shape, size, or position of their ears can greatly benefit from an otoplasty. The procedure has numerous psychological benefits and can improve a patient’s life in many ways.
First of all, an otoplasty allows patients to achieve a look that aligns more closely with their self-image and inner sense of self. Previously, they may have felt awkward in social situations because of the fear of being judged for the size of their ears. They may have even shied away from job interviews or other professional opportunities because they felt like their ear issues would be a hindrance to success. Luckily, these issues will all fade away with an otoplasty. Patients will be able to live their lives without always second-guessing what others think about them.
Another reason many patients have come to Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery for ear surgery is that our surgeons can fix the ears after an accident or trauma. If a person suffers damage to their earlobe, especially in a traumatic event, seeing themselves in the mirror can remind them of the terrible ordeal they went through. By having their ears repaired, it can help them move forward from the tragedy and get back to their normal lives.
Most of all, ear surgery will allow patients to be themselves without fear. There will be no more hiding behind hats or long haircuts; instead, patients can rock the pixie cut or ponytail they’ve always dreamed of without hiding in the background.
