Ear Surgery FAQ

Answers To Questions About Ear Surgery

Will smoking affect my recovery?

Smoking adversely affects wound healing. The small vessels that supply blood to the tissues shrink up and prevent the necessary nutrients for healing to get to the wound. The incidence of having a wound complication such as an open wound or skin death is much higher in smokers. Furthermore, the rate of wound infection is also significantly increased in smokers for the same reason of limited blood flow. Because of this, a patient must stop smoking for a minimum of two weeks prior to surgery to decrease the risk of these complications.

I have an earlobe tear on my right earlobe from a piercing. I want the hole stitched and re-pierced in 6 months to 1 year. Is this possible?

Our plastic surgeons perform earlobe repairs for various reasons. After an earlobe is repaired, we recommend you wait just 6 weeks before re-piercing.

How much time passes between the initial consultation and surgery?

Once you have had your complementary consult with one of our surgeons, it is typically 2-4 weeks before surgery. However, this can vary significantly.

After earlobe reduction surgery, what kind of dressing is necessary and how much bruising is created?

After earlobe reduction surgery, generally a small piece of tape or simply a topical antibiotic is applied. There is minimal to no bruising.

How long would it take to fully recover from an otoplasty?

After otoplasty, also called prominent ear surgery, there is some discomfort that usually requires pain pills for a few days. You’ll wear a soft head band for a few weeks and be back to normal activity quickly.

At what age should I have my son’s ears pinned back?

“Ear pinning” or otoplasty is considered at about 7 years of age. There are two reasons for this. First, a majority of the ear’s growth is complete at this age. Secondly, by setting the ears back at this young age, psychological trauma from mocking at school may be avoided.