Ear Surgery in Dothan, AL

Ears that appear to protrude and stick out, are asymmetrical or misshapen, or look oversized can affect your self-esteem, especially during childhood. Ear surgery is a cosmetic procedure that helps to correct the shape, size, and position of the ears to result in a natural appearance. Dr. Justin Martin is a plastic surgeon in Dothan, AL who has helped many men and women move past their anxiety of exposing their ears with this surgery. No matter the physical irregularity, otoplasty at Martin Plastic Surgery allows a patient to proudly show their face at any angle with confidence. If you or your child are worried about the size or shape of their ears, schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin to learn more about ear reshaping surgery.

Otoplasty can be performed at any age; however, it is common among children and is recommended prior to reaching elementary school. By six years of age, this treatment is safe and effective to be completed on a child. If you are self-conscious about the look and shape of your ears because they are misshapen or protrude outward, otoplasty can help attain a normal appearance. Patients with a torn or damaged earlobe may also be candidates for cosmetic ear surgery.

Otoplasty is performed using general anesthesia or IV sedation. In many patients, the incision is placed behind the ear. During this procedure, cartilage will be reshaped to create a smaller or larger appearance. It is common for each ear to be addressed during surgery to make sure they appear even. After this, the incisions are secured with sutures and carefully bandaged so they stay protected.

When the procedure is over and you are released to leave the hospital, you will recover at home. Dr. Martin or a member of his team will provide instructions for recovery. It's very important to not touch the ears. In addition, you should not lay on the ears, and instead sleep upright for a few days. The outcomes can be seen right away and the progression of results will continue to improve as the ears heal.

How much does ear surgery cost?
Your cost for ear surgery will be based on what's being done (ear pinning, shaping, earlobe repair, or a combination of these). Once Dr. Martin understands your issues and wants, he will formulate your treatment plan and estimate expenses. So that you are able to concentrate on getting the outcomes that you want rather than prices, Martin Plastic Surgery accepts several forms of payment and a member of our team will provide you with financing options if needed.

Will the results of ear surgery last?
The ears typically grow faster compared to other areas of the body and face, which is the reason why ear surgery can be performed on younger patients with excellent long-term outcomes. Dr. Martin will assess the roblem and then talk to you about what you can expect. While the rest of the body and face can change dramatically due to gravity and age, the impact on the ears should be minimal.

How old should my child be to consider otoplasty?
On average, kids about 6 years or older are candidates for ear surgery. Although the ear is generally fully grown, the tissue and cartilage are still malleable, which makes it easy to reshape. This age is also great because it's before they begin school or early in their schooling, so that they can avoid being teased by classmates. Though a lot of ear surgery patients are children, Dr. Martin also performs otoplasty on adults.

Do I need to have both ears done or just one?
Many ear issues, such as ears that are too large or stick out, happen in both ears, which means both will need to be corrected. During ear surgery, Dr. Martin will adjust both ears to make them as symmetric as possible. However, if just one ear has to be altered, the shape and size will be adjusted to mirror the untreated ear. When he creates your surgical plan, Dr. Martin will tell you if one or both ears need to be corrected.

What about fixing stretched or torn earlobes?
The trend of large earrings and ear gauges are making earlobe reconstruction a popular operation at Martin Plastic Surgery. If you are considering earlobe repair or reconstruction, schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin. He will analyze your ear and then let you know what may be done in order to repair your earlobes.

Ear surgery may help your child avoid getting teased by classmates, or help you if you've always felt self-conscious about your ears. Call Martin Plastic Surgery in Dothan, AL to schedule a consultation with Dr. Martin and get more information about surgical ear reshaping. Our team looks forward to helping you achieve a look you will love as well as the confidence to show it off.