Before your Ear Surgery
Many people are unhappy with their ears. It is normal for Ear surgery, also known as Otoplasty, doesn’t require too much in the way of preparation. We would advise however, that you wash your hair thoroughly prior to going for the operation purely for the reason that once you’ve had your ear reshaping surgery, you will awake with some bandages around your ears. One of the requirements (as you will read below) is that your wounds stay dry and that you do not take the bandages off before you have approval from your surgeon. As you will therefore not be able to wash your hair – this should be done shortly prior to you getting to the hospital for the surgery.
As part of the consultation – you will need to tell your doctor if you are a smoker – or if you take any other forms of medication. Depending on the information you give him, he will advise you accordingly.
Like all forms of plastic surgery, you should expect the Surgeon to come and visit you in your room before the operation. This gives you the opportunity to speak to them about any concerns you might have about it, or to ask any questions which you have thought of after the initial consultation. It also gives the Surgeon an opportunity to check that you are still keen to have the operation, that you understand the risks associated, and to essentially get your final consent.
You will need to be under a Local Anaesthetic, which requires injections around the ear. This makes them numb in a similar fashion to if you have ever had some dental work done and received an injection to ensure you can’t feel the needle. Following a stinging sensation, which might last for a few seconds – you will find the operation entirely painless.
Once the anaesthetic has worn off however, you will feel some discomfort. This is normal, and the surgeon will be able to prescribe you some painkillers to make this pain bearable.
Going home after your corrective ear surgery
Once the operation is done, you will have a turban like bandage on your head. It is normal for people who have had this type of surgery to go home after the bandages have come off. At this stage, you might still have some bruising around the area, but this is also normal. Any scars which have resulted from the incisions made during the operation will be hidden behind the ear in the natural fold of the skin.
Once the bandages have been removed, you should feel free – and actually encouraged to wash your hair frequently to keep the area clean and minimise the risk of any infection in the wounds. However, it is a good idea to not actually rub the area as it might still feel quite tender. We do recommend that you purchase yourself a sports headband to wear in bed. This will help protect the ears whilst sleeping, and can be worn for a further 10 nights.
