Large protruding ears can cause a person to feel insecure and embarrassed at times. Dr. Kotler knows and understands the suffering that some patients go through because of this. Otoplasty is a procedure that brings the ears closer to the head making the ears appear smaller and unobtrusive. This procedure can be corrected in adults and children five years or older to regain the confidence they were lacking. This is done by sculpting and reshaping the cartilage through incisions hidden on the back surface of the ear. The objective of ear surgery is to permanently re-contour the pliable ear cartilage for life long results.
Dr. Kotler has decades of experience performing nasal and facial surgery. See real patient results performed by a superspecialist in Beverly Hills, CA.
ANESTHESIA
General anesthesia is administered by a physician anesthesiologist specializing in facial procedures. Under anesthesia, there is no pain and no awareness. An intravenous is started and you drift off to sleep.
TIME
Approximately 2 hours (both ears) in the operating room.
Professional care is optional. If you choose to recover at home, someone must be with you the first night. As with all of our procedures, precise instructions, direction sheets and a “care package” of supplies and medications are provided.
Incisions are generally entirely “behind the ear” and are closed with dissolving stitches. These stitches may take up to 6 weeks to dissolve but can be removed sooner at the patient’s request.
One can return to work, school and normal activities 5 to 7 days after surgery. The ears may still be bruised and slightly swollen and will be sore to the touch but this abates rapidly. Obviously, no strenuous exercise is permitted for the first 2 weeks and no contact sports for 6 weeks.
A helmet type dressing is placed over the ears and head immediately after surgery. It is removed the following day during a brief office visit. At the same visit, the small rubber drains are removed from the wounds; these were placed to reduce swelling and bruising. The ears are then lightly redressed. The dressing can be removed at home the following day (two days after surgery) and you can shower and wash your hair.
There are no restrictions except for the prohibition against strenuous exercise for 2 weeks after surgery and no contact sports for 6 weeks after surgery. For those first 6 weeks, to protect the newly repositioned ears, we recommend wearing an elastic skier’s headband at night.
The ears will have diminished sensation and perhaps minimal residual swelling. Generally by 3 months the incisions have softened and become nearly invisible and the ears feel “natural”.
Rhinoplasty is a very successful operation when performed by the most-specialized, most-experienced facial cosmetic surgeons who further specialize in Rhinoplasty exclusively. There are very few but Dr. Kotler is that “superspecialist” in both Surgical Rhinoplasty and Permanent Non-surgical Rhinoplasty. Why not consult with a doctor at the top of the specialty totem pole?
We offer personal, in-office consultation, including computer imaging. After all, shouldn’t you see the predicted result of your procedure before making a decision? Also available to you is a Virtual Consultation with Dr. Kotler via FaceTime, WhatsApp or Zoom. Zoom’s great because family or friends can join the consult.
Call us today, at (310) 278-8721. We’ll arrange that consultation. A great first step because all your questions will be answered. And, no doctor is more qualified to answer those questions than Dr. Kotler.
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