Otoplasty, also known as “ear pinning” surgery, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to alter the position of the ears to reduce their prominence or improve symmetry. Dr. Moynihan’s results performing this custom surgery, which you can view in our gallery, reveal the subtle but dramatic change custom ear pinning creates.
Otoplasty in Chicago is performed using sutures and cartilage removal to allow the ears to lay back and frame the face. An incision in the back crease of the ear will allow for a small amount of skin and cartilage to be removed, after which sutures will be placed to secure the new ear structure and position.
When selecting a surgeon for ear pinning, you'll want to ensure that they possess not just plenty of experience but board certification as well. Look no further than double-board-certified aesthetic expert, Dr. George Moynihan. He is credentialed by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and has performed thousands of successful procedures. His state-of-the-art facility is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare, adhering to safety standards on par with the finest hospital operating rooms across the USA.
For almost 20 years, Dr. Moynihan has been at the helm of Chicago's premier facial plastic surgery center, performing complicated reconstructive surgeries and addressing a broad range of cosmetic and medical issues. He trained at Villanova, Loyola, and the renowned Rousso Facial Plastic Surgery Center and currently serves as A Clinical Assistant Professor at Loyola University Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center.
How much does an Otoplasty cost?
Can you use insurance to pay for an otoplasty?
What type of anesthesia is used to perform an otoplasty?
Are there age requirements for the procedure?
What causes prominent ears?
Can I have just one ear set back or do I need to do both?
Does the procedure hurt?
Do I have to wear a dressing?
Is there much bruising or swelling?
Will the prominence reoccur in the future?
What are the possible complications following otoplasty surgery?
Below is a list of the most asked questions our doctors have encountered when meeting with patients. The answers below illustrate and summarize the information necessary for a patient to be well-informed.
Otoplasty typically costs $7,500-$9,000, with all fees included.
Unfortunately, no. It is considered a cosmetic procedure.
The procedure is typically performed under MAC/IV sedation which can be described as a “twilight sleep”.
Although otoplasty can be highly successful and beneficial for children at a much younger age, Gold Coast Plastic Surgery is currently accepting new patients at a minimum age of fourteen years old. In terms of older patients, overall health is a more important factor than age when determining candidacy.
In most patients, ear prominence is caused by the underdevelopment of the antihelical fold (a fold that is inside the outer rim of the ear), which is responsible for keeping the top third of the ear close to the head. Ear prominence may also be due to the ear shape and the firmness and angle of the conchal bowl (the hollow bowl of the ear next to the ear canal) against the mastoid bone. Patients can either have one or both congenital findings in the external ear, which will dictate which techniques are necessary.
In some cases, there is only one ear affected, and the contralateral (other) ear is in the ideal anatomical position. These patients can have just one ear set back. In most cases, both ears are affected to varying degrees. If only the most affected ear is set back and not the less affected ear, then the postoperative result will be very distracting and cosmetically asymmetric. It is often recommended to perform the surgery on both ears so that the position the ears are set back to will match and result in natural and pleasing ear appearance.
The first day following the procedure is when most of the discomfort is experienced. This is due to the need to have a compressive dressing worn over night to prevent the accumulation of blood. Once the dressing is removed a vast majority of the discomfort is relieved.
A dressing is worn through the first night after the surgery. This is removed the next morning. A “headband” must be worn only while sleeping at night during the first week of the recovery.
Typically there is not a significant amount of bruising following surgery. The ears will have a significant amount of swelling during the first 4 days following surgery. By day 7 the ears will retain approximately 20 % of the swelling but will be cosmetically acceptable with regards to public viewing. By week two the ears have less than 5% of swelling and have an excellent cosmetic appearance.
When the correction of the ears is accomplished with only a suture technique, it is possible for the condition to reappear. For this reason, adult ears may be overcorrected with the expectation that they will relax and settle into the ideal position with time. Because of this uncertainty and the need to weather a postoperative appearance that is slightly unnatural, Dr. Moynihan has developed a technique to prevent the recurrence of protruding ears, allowing them to ideally frame the face throughout the entire postoperative period.
