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Protruding
ears are the most common imperfection. These can be on one
or both sides and the intensity of the deformation varies.
Parents often wonder what is the most appropriate age for
a child to have the operation. Most surgeons agree that the
operation should be performed early and before a child starts
school. This is a very practical approach to the problem because,
on one hand, deformation of the auricle has completely developed
and the auricle itself has completed its growth while, on
the other hand, the child comes to a new social environment
without any obvious abnormality.
The
fact that protruding ears can be surgically corrected as early
as preschool age is very favorable for children, because it
gives them the opportunity to remove a prominent deformation
which might become the base of undesirable complex developments
during school age. Because of their frankness, straight forwardness
and a tendency to tease, children can often sound very cruel.
Often you will hear of a child being given a nickname like
Dumbo the Elephant, Jug Ears or Propeller due to his/her flappy
ears. A sensitive child, at this age, will easily develop
a negative physiological complex. The fact that so many adults
come to have their physical imperfections corrected when they
are older, because their parents did not make it possible
for them to do so when they were children, proves that the
complex really exists.
Otoplasty
is cosmetic surgery that successfully deals with the problem
of deformed ears. The operation is painless. It is usually
done under local anesthetic but if necessary (as with small
children) can be done under general anesthetic. The operation
takes an hour. Prior to the operation, precise measurements
are taken and lines of correction are drawn on the auricles.
The incision is made in the rear of the ear. During the operation
the ear cartilage is prepared to create the new shape of the
auricles and the skin is also reshaped to match the new form.
Since the main incision is made behind the ear, stitches and
scars cannot be seen. Complications rarely occur but they
can appear as a hamatoma, thicker scar or secondary infection.
After
the operation, the auricles are fixed in the desired position.
The patient wears a bandage around his/ her head for seven
days. On the 7th day the stitches are removed. For the first
month after the operation, the patient should avoid all sports
and activities that could damage their ears. Adult patients,
who undergo the ear surgery, are usually younger people and
after successful surgery often do their hair in a way that
shows off their ears (crew cuts for men and pony tails for
women who used to cover their ears with hair previously).
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PATIENT
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Blood tests need to be done before the operation
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The patient needs to stay in surgery 2-3 hours, which is
the time necessary for the preparation, operation and a
short rest afterwards.
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The patient is sent to home care afterwards
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The length of stay in Zagreb is 1 day
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Those patients who are not from Zagreb can go home as early
as the next day and on the 7th day a local surgeon can remove
the stitches
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Sick leave is seven days. After the 7th day, the patient
can resume his/ her normal life and professional activities.
Surgeon`s
office ::: General informations >>>
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