Indications and Goals Of Otoplasty Procedures

Otoplasty is an aesthetic surgical procedure that refers to reconstruction of a deformed ear. Deformed ears refer to ears that, regardless of size, are “sticking out” enough to appear abnormal. The normal external ear is separated by no more than 2 cm from, and forms an angle of about 26 degrees with, the side of the head. Beyond these approximate normal limits, the ear looks prominent when looked at from either the back or the front.

Although most prominent ears are otherwise normal in shape, some prominent ears have additional deformities. The term macrotia refers to markedly large ears that, besides being large, are “prominent.” Constricted ears are abnormally small but tend to appear “prominent” because the circumference of the upper arch of the ear is small, causing the external ear to cup forward.  Cryptotia denotes the external ear in which the upper pole of the helix is buried beneath the skin. Question mark ear is another deformity that denotes loss of the part of the external ear that is above soft lower pole which leads to the “question mark” like appearance.

The goal of an otoplasty procedure is to set back the shape of the ear in such a way that its contours appear natural and soft; the setback should be harmonious with no apparent evidence of surgical intervention.

When looked at from various angles, the surgically corrected ear should bear the following characteristics:

1. Appearance from the front. When viewed from the front the upper curvature of the ear should be visible, not set back so far that it is hidden behind other structures of the external ear.

2. Appearance from the back. When viewed from behind, the rim of the upper curvature of the external ear should be straight, not curved like a letter C or a hockey stick. If this is accomplished, the otoplasty will be harmonious; that is, the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the ear will be setback in correct proportions to each other. If, for example, the middle third of the ear is set back too much with respect to the upper and lower thirds, the upper curvature of the ear will form a “C” shape when seen from behind, creating what plastic surgeons call a  “telephone deformity”.

3. Appearance from the sides. The contours of the ear should be natural and soft. If otoplasty yields sharp contours of the ear, it is unaesthetic and inconvenient.

The success in achieving the goals of an otoplasty procedure is highly determined by the detailed evaluation of the anatomical structure of the ear. Moreover, the outcome of the procedure is highly affected by the aesthetic view and the artistic judgment of the plastic surgeon.

If you are looking for a plastic surgery Beverly Hills procedure, Dr. Calvert is the right plastic surgeon to consult. He is a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in otoplasty and numerous other aesthetic procedures. He will help you determine the right otoplasty procedure that would help setback your ears to the perfect aesthetic appearance. Pay a visit to his web site here: www.drcalvert.com