Ear Surgery in Pittsburgh, PA

Large, misshapen, or disproportionate ears can hinder a person's cosmetic appearance and detract from the rest of their facial features. Dr. Robert Chiu is board certified in both facial plastic and reconstructive surgery as well as head and neck surgery, making him highly qualified to address any facial concerns of his Pittsburgh, PA patients. During an otoplasty (ear surgery) procedure, Dr. Chiu can reshape the ears by pinning them back and removing any excess tissue or skin to transform their overall appearance. Each patient will have the opportunity to consult with our plastic surgeon before their operation to decide on the desired shape and the needed surgical techniques to achieve their goals. This surgery is commonly performed on children as young as 5 – 6 years of age, but it can also be administered successfully to adults of all ages. Dr. Chiu invites potential candidates to schedule a consultation at Today's Cosmetic Surgery to learn more.  

The best candidates for ear reconstruction surgery:

• Have prominent, sticking out, misaligned, misshapen, or disproportionate ears
• Can be as young as 5 or 6 years of age to correct ear abnormalities
• Have anxiety about the look of their ears
• Desire a long-term solution
• Desire a natural look

Otoplasty is an outpatient procedure that normally requires only local anesthesia--younger patients usually do better with anesthesia administered. Small incisions will be made around the ears to allow our surgeon better access to the cartilage. Cartilage can then be manipulated through removal, reshaping, and reforming to repair the ears for an improved, more symmetrical look. Excess skin from the ear can also be removed if needed. Ear surgery is commonly used to pin back protruding ears, repair earlobes, reshape, and resize to provide natural-looking results. The length of the surgery depends on the technique and the condition of the patient's ears.

Following ear surgery, the ears will be dressed to provide protection. The dressing will remain in place for around 5-7 days for children and less for adults. There’s some mild pain or discomfort associated with otoplasty, and patients should expect to experience some swelling. It’s crucial that pediatric patients not touch or bother their ears while they are healing. Results are long standing and should provide years of positive benefits for patients.

Anxiety about your ears as an adult or bullying by classmates for children can have profound effects on self-esteem and self-image. However, ear surgery can vastly improve a patient’s appearance and confidence. To learn more about transforming your or your child’s ears, give us a call today at our Pittsburgh, PA office to schedule a consultation.