Ear Surgery
Overly large, misshapen, or disproportionate ears can detract from the appearance of your entire face. Oftentimes, the emotional discomfort caused by irregular ears is compounded by teasing or bullying, particularly for younger people. This is why Virginia facial plastic surgeon Dr. Roberta Gartside offers otoplasty, or ear surgery, to children as well as adults.
If you or your child are unhappy with the appearance of protuberant or overly large ears, please call 703-742-8004 today to schedule an initial consultation with Virginia otoplasty surgeon Dr. Roberta Gartside.
Good Candidates for Ear Surgery
Good candidates for otoplasty should have fully developed cartilage in the ears. While Virginia otoplasty surgery is available for children, it is typically not appropriate before the age of five. In addition, ideal candidates should:
- Be nonsmokers and in generally good health
- Be free of chronic ear infections
- Be prepared for a surgical procedure and short recovery period
- Be willing and able to carefully follow Dr. Gartside’s pre and postoperative otoplasty surgery advice
If you have chosen to have this procedure performed on your child, it is important that he or she be capable of following instructions to reduce the risk of postoperative complications.
Tailoring Your Otoplasty Procedure
Your Virginia otoplasty surgery will be customized to produce the look that is most complimentary to the size and shape of your head, along with your other facial features. To accomplish this, Dr. Gartside will make small incisions through which excess skin can be removed and ideal contours can be created. Once cartilage has been reshaped, irremovable sutures are placed inside of the incisions to firmly yet unnoticeably hold the ears in place.
Because incisions are involved there is a short recovery period following otoplasty surgery. Some discomfort is common and should be fully considered before committing a child to this procedure. During your initial consultation, Dr. Gartside will be happy to answer any questions you have and discuss what your particular ear surgery may entail.
If you would like to schedule an otoplasty surgery consultation, please contact our board-certified Virginia plastic surgeon online or call 703-742-8004 today. Dr. Gartside provides otoplasty surgery for people living in and around Washington D.C. as well as the Reston, Fairfax, and McLean areas of Virginia.
