What Is Ear Surgery

What Is Ear Surgery
What Is Ear Surgery

Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the appearance of prominent or protruding ears. It is one of the few cosmetic surgeries that can be performed on children, since an individual’s ears typically stop growing by age five. Children and adults with severely protruding ears are often the subject of persistent teasing by their peers, resulting in psychological stress and mental anguish. Ear Surgery can eliminate this problem by pinning protruding ears back so they lie closer to the head. In fact, it is recommended that children with severely protruding ears undergo otoplasty at a very young age so the problem can be corrected before any teasing begins. Young children also tend to recover faster than do adults, making it an ideal time to perform the surgery.

Most ear surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis, although some doctors prefer to keep children overnight for extra monitoring. The surgery itself is usually only one to two hours long, depending on the complexity of the procedure. General anesthetic is recommended for young children. Older children and adults will generally undergo otoplasty with just a local anesthetic to numb the ear and the surrounding tissue. A two to three inch long incision is made in the natural crease just behind the ear to hide the incision from view. This exposes the underlying cartilage, a soft pliable tissue that gives the ear its unique shape. Depending on the extent of the protrusion, the doctor will either weaken the cartilage and bend it into its new shape or remove excess cartilage to achieve the desired results. The cartilage is secured using permanent sutures to keep it from moving back into its natural shape. Once the cartilage is secure, the incision is closed and sewn back up.

Following the surgery, patients wear a thick, tight dressing to cover and protect their ears. After a few days, a more lightweight bandage can be used. Ear surgery patients may find they experience mild to moderate discomfort during the first several days of the healing process, but this pain can be easily controlled by over the counter medications such as Tylenol or through a doctor-prescribed prescription pain reliever. Recovering patients may find it difficult to sleep initially, since many people rest their head on their ears while sleeping. A soft pillow may help to alleviate some of this discomfort. Sutures are removed approximately one week after the procedure, assuming the surgeon did not use dissolvable sutures.

Complications arising from ear surgery are rare, but like any surgery otoplasty is not completely risk free. Your surgeon will discuss potential side-effects of the procedure with you in advance of the day of your surgery so you are aware of what to expert post-surgery, and so you have realistic expectations of the procedure. Complications may include nerve damage that results in a temporary loss of sensation in the ears, scarring, infection, a localized reaction to the sutures used, or asymmetry of the ears.

Individuals interested in learning more about ear surgery and how it can improve their appearance should make an appointment with a plastic surgeon with strong track record of successful otoplasty experience.

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Learn About Swimmers Ear

Learn About Swimmers Ear

Learn About Swimmers Ear

It is an infection which affects the outer ear canal. The technical term for swimmers ear is known as otitis externa. It is a very common problem among children. As it mainly affects swimmers it is known as the swimmers ear. But it is not only restricted to swimmers. People having bath or are in shower may also be get affected by this infection.

It is caused when water gets accumulated in the ear canal and leads to an infection. This infection causes swelling, redness, heat and pain. Infection leads to formation of pus which oozes out from the ear. There can be itchiness so any slight movement or touching of the ear can cause lot of pain. The infection is induced due to a germ called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is commonly found in soil and water.

Polluted water is the major cause of this trouble. Swimming in polluted lakes and rivers can be very hazardous. If your children are swimming in an enclosed pool environment you still cannot be sure about the cleanliness of the water. Even when water is chlorinated you may not escape the bacteria.

Bacteria grows when the water get accumulated in the ear canal. It washes away the protective earwax coating leading to an infection. The moistness of the ear may lead to vulnerability of ear and become prone to an infection. Fungal infection and constant diving are some of the causes for this infection.

Once detected you should avoid getting into the water. Allow time to heal your wounds before you jump back in. Wear shower caps when in shower to restrict water from getting into your ears. You can wear ear plugs or cotton balls to prevent water from entering your ears. Avoid fidgeting your ears with cotton swabs or any pointed objects.

Your doctor will treat this problem by prescribing some ear drops. Due to the immense pain he may even prescribe pain killers. These antibiotics drops may help to clear the problem. By taking some precautionary measures you can avoid this problem too. Always keep your ears dry. If any amount of water gets into your ears remove by using an alcohol-based product. Avoid swimming in polluted areas.

There are some common symptoms which can help you detect swimmers ear. Your ear becomes very sensitive and gives you the feeling of being choked. You may suffer from fever and hearing gets deteriorated. The pain in the ear may spread through the neck, face or part of your face.

Home Remedies

The mixture of alcohol and white vinegar should be used in 1:1 proportion. A few drops of this mixture would evaporate all the moisture from your ear.

Use a hairdryer by keeping it in the warm setting using it over your ear to dry it.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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