Dr. Summers helps Baltimore ear set-back patients who are unhappy with their ear placement at his Maryland Plastic Surgery center. To learn more about the procedure, read the following paragraphs.
Cosmetic surgery of the ear, also known as otoplasty, is a procedure that helps reduce protrusion of the ear away from the head or reshapes the ear to achieve a more pleasing contour. Frequently, cosmetic ear surgery (otoplasty) is performed on children between the ages of four to fourteen. Ears that “stick out” are often the source of teasing and ridicule in young children. This teasing can have a devastating effect on the child’s psyche.
Otoplasty is not limited to children and is also be performed on adult patients at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center. Cosmetic procedures are available for those individuals with large ears and for those with congenital (birth) irregularities that detract from their appearance. Additionally, an individual’s ears may exhibit abnormal traits due to their genetic make-up or an accidental injury. Otoplasty is used successfully for each of these situations. Regardless of the procedure, patients have been pleased with the long-lasting improvements to their appearance offered by ear surgery.
At the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, ear surgery is commonly performed under general anesthesia for children and local anesthesia for adults. The standard otoplasty procedure brings the ears closer to the head. Otoplasty begins with an incision hidden in the crease behind the ear. This incision allows the cartilage located behind the ears to be reshaped in order to position them closer to the head. The procedure takes approximately one to two hours, depending upon the extent of surgery.
There are various surgical techniques involved in correcting irregularities other than protruding ears. These techniques can be discussed with Dr. Summers during the initial consultation.
After the surgery is completed, bandages will be wrapped around the head. This method secures the ear in place and assists with the healing process. The bandages are usually removed within a week and replaced with smaller dressings. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery. Any discomfort is treated effectively with oral medication.
In addition to helping otoplasty patients, Dr. Summers offers other face procedures at his plastic surgery center. Please visit these pages to learn about how Dr. Summers helps Baltimore rhinoplasty, facelift, eyelid lift, chin and cheek implant and forehead (brow) lift patients.
Click on a question below to see the answer.
A: Dr. Summers has performed otoplasty procedures on patients ranging from infants to those in their 70’s. It is appropriate for an individual to have their ears set-back at anytime in their life when they feel that their ear(s) are a source of concern.
A: Bandages will be worn 24-hours daily for one week. After this, for the next month, patients are instructed to wear a headband at night covering the ears – this prevents the ears from being accidently pulled forward when sleeping. Recovery is typically uneventful. In rare cases, bruising and swelling can persist for several weeks.
A: Insurance will typically not cover otoplasty procedures. In rare cases, an insurance company may provide some reimbursement for expenses incurred for a child undergoing otoplasty.
Note: Patients are personally responsible for full pre-payment of their procedure. If insurance reimbursement is available, it will be made directly to the patient. Due to insurance company discounts, patient reimbursement is typically less than the amount paid out-of-pocket.
A: Typically, an otoplasty procedure in children is done under a general anesthetic, where the child is completely asleep for the entire procedure. In contrast, adult patients may have the procedure performed under local anesthesia only. If an adult patient is anxious, he or she may elect to have IV sedation.
A: Maryland Plastic Surgery is Maryland’s premiere cosmetic surgery center and medical spa. The Center’s director, Dr. Adam Summers, is an expert cosmetic surgeon who uses advanced techniques to achieve natural looking results. Just 15 minutes from Baltimore, Howard County (Columbia) and Annapolis, the Center specializes in tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and facelift procedures. © Baltimore Maryland Plastic Surgery Center and Medical Spa.
Dr. Adam Summers performs the Most Facelift a long lasting minimally invasive facelift procedure which he developed at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center. The Most Facelift is a customized variation of the Threadlift Face Lift (eg. Silk Lift, Aptos Lift, Featherlift, Soft Lift, Curl Lift). The Maryland Plastic Surgery Center is just minutes from Ellicott City, Towson, Rockville, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia and Washington DC. Copyright 2007 Maryland Plastic Surgery - One Hour Threadlift Facelift in Maryland.