Otoplasty plastic surgery?

Hello :)

I can answer some of your questions.

The initial recovery period for ear-pinning surgery (otoplasty) is 1-2 weeks. I would like to stress the importance of the work "initial" recovery period...you will actually be in recovery for about 3 months. You will have bruising, swelling and discomfort for the first week or so, but after that you will "look" recovered.

The thing you really need to be careful about in the following months is not to strain, yank, pull or smash your ears. Sports like football (putting the helmet on would be bad), wrestling, swimming, etc. should be avoided. Sadly, even sleeping on your side can "damage" the final outcome. You need to talk to your surgeon, express your lifestyle and come to a firm understanding of what you can and cannot do.

Regarding not feeling pain? A couple weeks, but you are not "healed". See the above paragraph.

Infection, I would assume is similar to any standard procedure. Proper instructions will be given to you and you should only need to "baby" them from infection for the first week. After that you will just have to baby them while they strengthen in place.

Sorry for the redundancy, but this is a unique procedure that requires different levels of attention at different times. Good luck!

Whether you have had cosmetic or functional otoplasty, you'll have to deal with cumbersome bandages, bad hair days, and a bit of misery before you can enjoy your new set of ears. Often times it is children who undergo the procedure at a fairly young age. The parents will need to be prepared for a few tears and tantrums (especially if it's summer time since the pool will be off limits). Recovery varies by individual and the specific procedure, but here are the basics of post operative care that need to be followed. Immediately following surgery, the patient will be still under the effects of anesthesia. They may feel disoriented, tired, and light-headed. Some people have more severe reactions to anesthesia which include extreme nausea, which must be kept under control with medication to avoid side effects such as vomiting. Since the patient will feel quite "out of it," the caretaker should take precaution to make them as comfortable as possible for the ride home. Have a soft pillow or blanket ready for them, as they just might fall dead asleep even on a short trip.

These questions are for the surgeon who will do it. You need to ask him what his experience has been with his patients.