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Ear lobes correction operations are aimed at eliminating acquired or congenital defects localized in the lower third of the auricle. This procedure can be performed both separately and as part of otoplasty (correction of the auricle).
What is an earlobe, what are the problems
According to the anatomy, the human ear consists of the visible outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. In turn, the outer ear consists of the external auditory apparatus and the auricle. The lobe is a part of the auricle with localization below, it is a small fold of adipose tissue and skin.
Sometimes the earlobe can be injured, and surgical intervention is necessary to restore its aesthetic appearance. With what problems do patients most often turn to the surgeon?
Torn earlobe – may occur due to the fact that the earring was pulled hard and a gap formed. Some women, after a break, hope that the earlobe will grow on its own. Indeed, the wound will heal, only an ugly scar will appear, deformation of the lobe will be observed, therefore, it is better to eliminate any gap with the help of experienced surgeons.
Large holes in the ears. This problem can occur in women and men (current trend) for various reasons: heavy earrings, the use of tunnels in the ears (piercers). Surgeons are approached to correct the defect, restore the aesthetics of the lobe and provide an opportunity to re-pierce the ears to wear elegant and small earrings. Sagging earlobes – with age, the skin even on the ears becomes less elastic, therefore, the earlobes stretch and look unattractive.
Among other reasons for turning to a plastic surgeon, it is worth noting: protruding lobes, the presence of rough scars in the lower part of the ear, a change in the volume or shape of the lower region of the auricle, the complete absence of a lobe, the consequences after a facelift, etc.
Ear lobes correction with fillers
All age-related changes can be corrected with the help of filler gels, in other words, without any surgical intervention. Fillers are injected into the required area using special syringes with fine needles. Fillers correct the shape and volume of the lobe. More often, hyaluronic acid is used as a filler.
Preparing for an operation
There are no special preparations. First, the patient visits the doctor for a visual examination. The specialist carefully studies the problem, the doctor studies the patient’s medical history. If necessary, prescribes a series of tests in order to determine the presence or absence of contraindications:
- general blood analysis;
- general urine analysis;
- blood clotting test;
- blood test for AIDS, hepatitis, etc.
If the patient has no contraindications to surgical intervention, the doctor appoints the time and date of the proposed procedure.
The doctor must inform the patient about all restrictions before and after the procedure. Among the general requirements, there is a refusal to drink alcohol two weeks before the procedure, a week before the procedure, you need to give up medicines that thin the blood, and on the day of the operation, do not take drugs that raise blood pressure.
Typically, local anesthesia is used for surgical procedures. But if the situation is complex and can take a long time, then general anesthesia is used. Everything directly depends on the situation and the patient’s reaction to anesthesia.
The doctor determines the correction technique based on the problem. In the presence of an elongated lobe, the surgeon makes a small incision on its inner side, through which the doctor excises excess skin and evenly distributes fatty tissues. In case of breaks, the doctor carefully adjusts the seams. If the defect is congenital, additional plastic material may be used. All scars are microresurfacing.
If there is a problem with protrusion, the surgeon performs a procedure to remove part of the lobe, excise the skin behind the ear and displace the cartilage. If the earlobe is completely absent, the doctor can use an implant from a healthy ear or tissue flaps with feeding legs (the operation requires high skill of the surgeon).
Asymmetry or large size is eliminated by excising excess tissue and adjusting the size. Self-absorbable sutures are applied. In the presence of a rough scar, the doctor makes an excision, after which he carries out the stitching process using an atraumatic material. After complete healing, a laser resurfacing procedure is prescribed.
After the procedure, the wound is carefully treated and sealed with a small adhesive bandage. It, like any other wound, must be carefully looked after in order not to provoke a number of complications and infection.
Postoperative period and contraindications
A few hours after the plastic surgery of the earlobe, provided there are no complications, the patient can leave the clinic. This procedure does not involve treatment in a hospital setting. The bandage is worn for ten days. It is important to perform processing and dressing every day. If the sutures are knotty, then the doctor removes them on the eleventh day after the procedure. In the first days, swelling and soreness will be visualized.
After the operation, alcohol-containing drinks are prohibited for at least a month. A month later, you need to see a doctor for an examination. And only after three months the lobe can be pierced again. Among the contraindications to surgical intervention, it is worth noting menstruation in women, minority, chronic diseases in the period of exacerbation, diabetes mellitus, blood clotting disorders, oncological formations, purulent formations in the area of the lobe.
Among the possible complications, there are also hematomas in the area of intervention, bruises, swelling, and severe pain. If after five days the pain and swelling do not decrease, you need to see a doctor for an examination and, possibly, prescribing drug therapy.