Plastic surgeons strongly urge adult patients to quit smoking before the surgery, because smoking delays and complicates the healing process.
Patients that undergo otoplasty surgery are those that wish to have a procedure done on their ears. This may be medical or purely for aesthetics. Common procedures are referred to as ear pinning.
Patients are usually advised to discontinue taking aspirin and any other medications that thin the blood for two weeks prior to surgery.
Preparation for otoplasty in adults includes a physical examination and standard blood tests.
Patients should also avoid contact sports for at least three months after otoplasty.
Otoplasty refers to a group of plastic surgery procedures done to correct deformities of or disfiguring injuries to the external ear.
Otoplasty is considered reconstructive rather than cosmetic surgery. Consequently, it is often covered by health insurance.
After an otoplasty, the patient's head is wrapped with a turban-type bandage that is worn for four or five days following surgery.
After surgery, patients may be advised not to stoop, lift heavy objects, exercise vigorously, or swim.
Some plastic surgeons use custom-made silicone molds to help maintain the position of the ears in adult patients for several weeks after surgery.
Warm compresses should be applied to the ears two or three times a day for two weeks after the turban is removed.
Revision plastic surgery may be performed later to remove scar tissue.
The proper word to use when referring to cosmetic surgery done to one's ear would be otoplasty. One may want to have otoplasty done because of an accident or a birth defect.