Boston Ear and Eyelid Surgeons
New England Center for Plastic Surgery and Medispa
Ear & Eyelid Surgery
The New England Center for Plastic Surgery and Medispa is a Boston plastic surgery facility that helps Boston ear and eyelid surgery patients achieve the look they desire. To learn more about these procedures, please read the following paragraphs.
Ear Surgery
Surgery of the ear, also known as otoplasty, is a procedure that helps reduce protrusion of the ear away from the head. Most often, ear surgery is performed on children between the ages of four to fourteen, but now is also being done more commonly in adults as well. Ears that “stick out” are often the source of teasing and ridicule in young children. This teasing can have a devastating effect on the child’s psyche.
Otoplasty is not limited to children and may also be performed on older patients. Cosmetic procedures are available for those individuals with large ears and for those with congenital (birth) irregularities that detract from their appearance. Additionally, an individual’s ears may exhibit abnormal traits due to their genetic make-up or an accidental injury, such as losing an ear or part of an ear. Otoplasty is used successfully for each of these situations. Regardless of the procedure, patients have been pleased with the long-lasting improvements to their appearance offered by ear surgery.
Reasons for Considering Ear Surgery:
- Bring proportion to the face if the ears “stick out” too much.
- Correct folded ear tips (lop ear).
- Reshape long or offset earlobes.
- Enhance very small ears or other congenital defects.
- Remedy an accidental injury, including the loss of an ear.
General Procedure
Ear surgery is commonly performed under general anesthesia for children and local anesthesia for adults. The standard otoplasty procedure brings the ears closer to the head. Otoplasty begins with an incision hidden in the crease behind the ear. This incision allows the cartilage located behind the ears to be reshaped in order to position them closer to the head. The procedure takes approximately one to two hours, depending upon the extent of surgery.
There are various surgical techniques involved in correcting irregularities other than protruding ears. These techniques can be discussed with your physician during the initial consultation.
Recovery Process
After the surgery is completed, large bandages will be wrapped around the head. This method secures the ear in place and assists with the healing process. The bandages are usually removed within a week and replaced with smaller dressings. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery. Any pain can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions.
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery (known as blepharoplasty) is a corrective procedure that can reduce the "tired eye" look or “bags” under the eyes, remove excess wrinkles, and provide a more youthful appearance to the eyes. One of the first things noticed about a person is their eyes. During the aging process, wrinkles, lines, and puffiness contribute to a tired or aged appearance. The blepharoplasty surgery is often performed in conjunction with other facial procedures such as a face lift or rhinoplasty (nose surgery).
Reasons for Considering Eyelid Surgery:
- Dark circles or bags under the eyes.
- Excessive skin or wrinkles surrounding the eyelids.
- A tired appearance or puffiness due to inherited factors.
General Procedure
The surgical procedure includes tiny incisions made in the natural contours around the eyes which should leave no or minimally visible scarring. The surgeon will usually work on the upper eyelids first to remove any fatty tissue and tighten loose skin. Lower eyelids are completed next to eliminate puffiness and wrinkles.In some instances, laser technology may be used to smooth lower eyelid areas. Newer techniques may include Botox, fat or Restylane injections to firm fine lines and wrinkles.
The surgery generally takes about one to three hours. If additional cosmetic procedures are being performed, the eyelid surgery could last longer.
Recovery Process
Normally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery which can be treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize the risk for potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given after the surgery. The healing process for this procedure is slightly longer than most other forms of cosmetic surgery; however, the benefits are long-lasting. Iced compresses the first 48 hours helps to minmize the bruising.Patients will have a more rested and youthful appearance.
In addition to ear and eyelid surgeries, our physicians at the New England Center for Plastic Surgery and Medispa offer other facial cosmetic procedures. Please visit these pages to learn more about how Drs. Marshall and Savage help Boston rhinoplasty, facelift, Botox and chin and cheek implant patients.
