BEFORE OTOPLASTY SURGERY
At your preoperative otoplasty appointment our nurse will provide all the instructions for you to follow before and after surgery. On the business day prior to the operation we ask you to call to confirm your arrival time for the ear pinning surgery. Upon arrival for your surgery, you and your family will talk with a nurse to discuss anesthesia (local anesthesia with IV sedation keeps you asleep and comfortable) and meet with your plastic surgeon before going to the operating room. Depending on the child's age and development, IV's are typically started after the child is asleep. Otoplasty takes about one to two hours depending on the structure and tissue prior to surgery. If you are having a combination of procedures your plastic surgery will take longer. Recovery time from the anesthetic takes about an hour and adults will be discharged about four hours from the time of admission. It may be necessary to watch a youth a bit longer to be sure she is eating, drinking, voiding and awake enough to go home.
PREOPERATIVE OTOPLASTY INSTRUCTIONS
- Please avoid any aspirin, aspirin-containing products, or ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, etc.) for one week prior to and two weeks following your otoplasty surgery. See "Medication List" for details about products to avoid prior to surgery. If you are on any medications that affect bleeding (such as coumadin/warfarin) notify the office immediately.
- Please refrain from tobacco products and alcohol for one week prior to surgery. Along with delayed wound healing, persistent skin redness and other complications may persist when tobacco and alcohol are not discontinued.
- Please notify us of all routine medications and significant health history. We ask that you remain on your daily medications unless instructed otherwise. At the preoperative otoplasty appointment, our nurse will tell you which daily medications to take with just a sip of water on the morning of surgery.
- At your preoperative otoplasty appointment you will be given prescriptions for use following surgery including an oral antibiotic and pain medications. We will also provide instructions to obtain a wide ski-type headband. Please obtain these prescription medications and supplies before your otoplasty surgery so you will have them ready for use when you return home after surgery.
- Please call the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery before noon on the business day prior to your procedure at 267-8200 to confirm your arrival time.
- You may not eat or drink after midnight the evening before the otoplasty procedure unless instructed otherwise. You may brush your teeth. Your procedure will be cancelled if you do not follow these instructions.
- Do not bring valuables (cash, credit cards, watches, jewelry, etc.) to the Lindsay House on the day of your otoplasty surgery. Remove all make-up and nail polish before arriving for your procedure.
- It is not required that a family member or friend stay at the Lindsay House during your otoplasty surgery. However, someone must be available by telephone at all times while you are here at the Lindsay House for surgery. Someone will need to drive you home after your surgery and stay with you that evening. Transportation to the office for head dressing removal three to four days following otoplasty surgery is also required.
AFTER OTOPLASTY SURGERY
When you wake up from otoplasty surgery you will notice a snug head wrap dressing that covers your ears. This helps to minimize swelling and reinforce the new position of the ears. The head wrap dressing may temporarily affect your hearing.
Following otoplasty, the nurses will ask assist you to meet the discharge criteria: to drink liquids, walk with a steady gait, void, manage your discomfort, and to see that you can make your needs known. The nurses will teach you how to keep the head wrap dressing dry and intact for about three to four days.
You will be asked to come to our Lindsay House office (not the Surgery Center) three days after your ear pinning surgery for removal of the head dressing with replacement of the ski-type headband. It is essential that you bring the headband with you to this appointment. Most patients tell us removal of the head dressing is a big relief.
POSTOPERATIVE OTOPLASTY INSTRUCTIONS
Activity
Sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows for one week after surgery. Absolutely no bending, lifting or straining. For adult otoplasty patients, if you have little children, sit on the floor to let them climb on to your lap. We recommend no driving for one week following otoplasty surgery while the head dressing is in place due to decreased hearing and range of motion of the head and neck. A minimum of one week off work is recommended.
Diet
Advance diet from liquids to soft food to your regular diet as tolerated.
Wound care
For three to four days after ear pinning surgery, keep the dressing dry and intact. Bathing is OK, but do not get the dressing wet.
Medications
Use pain medication (Tylenol with codeine/hydrocodone) as needed. Most patients complain of discomfort more than pain. Do not take additional Tylenol or acetaminophen while taking Tylenol with codeine. For adult otoplasty patients, do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication. Side effects of pain medications can include nausea and constipation. Taking pain medication with food helps minimize nausea. Over-the-counter laxatives are indicated if constipation persists.
Start your antibiotic (Keflex/cephalexin) when you get home. It is not uncommon to have a low-grade fever for 24 hours following otoplasty surgery.
Please Remember!
Bruising, swelling and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative otoplasty symptoms and will decrease as the healing process occurs. Since hearing is temporarily compromised after ear pinning surgery, assistance with daily activities is recommended.
Final Result
Following otoplasty, it takes time for the swelling to subside and for the skin to heal. Most patients return to school one to two weeks following otoplasty surgery, depending on temporary bruising and swelling. We recommend a minimum of two weeks out of physical education and a written excuse will be provided.
Final results following otoplasty are not assessed for one full year following surgery. After three months, the changes are ever so subtle, although still important. Being perfectionists about our work, you may tell us you are pleased long before the one year anniversary. However, we request that you follow-up with us at that time for postoperative otoplasty photographs and so that we can enjoy your final result.
Please notify the office 244-1000 and ask for our nurse for any concerns. For an emergency, please contact our office or professional answering service at 258-4851. Remember, we are all here to help in any way we can.
Copyright 2010 Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery