Sinusitis

Otoplasty rehabilitation period. How to select and wear a bandage after otoplasty

In the period from five to 14 years, when cartilage tissue tends to recover quickly. The result of such an operation largely depends on the proper care of the ears after it.

Rehabilitation period after otoplasty

To ensure rapid healing of the ears and speed up the recovery period, you must strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations. You should be careful with your ears for 10 days, and constantly, then you can.

Healing of cut tissues proceeds differently for everyone, but in order not to injure the sutures, it is necessary to avoid sports and vigorous activity, which can increase blood pressure and, as a result, cause swelling of the operated areas. After 14 days, sports fans can resume their activities, but with some caution.

To determine for yourself what is possible and what should be avoided in the postoperative period, you need to know what is considered normal, and in case of any deviations you need to consult a doctor.

If in the first two days a person experiences pain, then this is considered normal, after this time they go away on their own.

How is recovery after surgery going?

It consists of several stages, as evidenced by:

Destruction– during the operation, tissue and cells are damaged at the incision site, they are not immediately healed.
Exudation– it develops, which almost always occurs after damage due to the flow of the liquid component of the blood into the intercellular space.
Proliferation– the stage is characterized by cell division, and this process occurs at an accelerated pace, which helps restore tissue. At this time, a primary scar is formed from connective tissue.
Resorption– the final stage, after which the scar subsides a little and becomes less pronounced. Connective tissue cells are replaced by their epithelial counterparts.

All of the above stages of the rehabilitation period follow each other in exactly this sequence and contribute to the healing of surgical incisions.

The recovery period involves wearing a special bandage; it not only protects the operated ears from injury, but also contributes to the correct fixation of the resulting ear shape for many years. When a person sleeps, the bandage protects the not yet fully formed scar from injury and keeps the weak cartilage in the correct position. As such a bandage, you can use not only products specially designed for otoplasty, but its textile variety; some use wide tennis tapes. The bandage also provides protection against infection and displacement of cartilage tissue. In order to strictly adhere to the recommendations after such an operation, the bandage should be changed daily, and solutions in the form of chlorhexidine, furatsilin or hydrogen peroxide should be used.

In addition to wearing a bandage, you should know a few more nuances:

You can speed up wound healing with cream -;
tight bandaging is used to prevent bleeding immediately after surgery;
for severe pain, which often manifests itself after extensive surgery, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used (or);
To reduce swelling, special tight bandages are used, but they are only allowed to be applied by a surgeon.

The video below will tell you about rehabilitation after surgery:

Ear care

You need to direct all your actions to protect your ears from the influence of negative factors on them. The following recommendations will need to be followed:

Introducing into the diet during the rehabilitation period easily digestible foods high in protein and fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats are required.
Limit physical activity, consumption of junk food, and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Try to stay in comfortable conditions, at a temperature no higher than 25 degrees and no lower than 18. Until the stitches are completely healed, avoid going to baths and saunas, and also avoid.
Washing your hair is allowed only after 3 days without shampoo, but only with warm water, then you can only use baby detergent.
Those who wear glasses need to worry about lenses in advance, since glasses cannot be worn for at least two months until the ears are completely healed.

Removing stitches

If a silk thread was used to close the stitches during the operation, it will need to be removed in a medical setting after five days or a week.
But when using catgut, the stitches dissolve on their own.

The doctor will be able to evaluate the results of his work only after six months; if necessary, he will recommend the use of some hardware cosmetology techniques. The rehabilitation period is relatively easy, so when preparing for such an operation, you need to set aside a week of your vacation for it. After which it will be possible to constantly admire the beautiful shape of the ears.

Sensitivity in the ear area after otoplasty will be restored gradually, but there will be a slight discomfort; you will want to scratch the wounds, but this should not be done.

Everyone's idea of beauty is different, but everyone will agree that beauty is an important element in the formula for success. Elegance and beauty always give self-confidence, which in turn affects a person’s success in all matters - both in business and on the love front.

Plastic surgery today is becoming more and more accessible to everyone. Its popularity is directly related to this, because more and more people can experience the amazing results of plastic surgery. An experienced surgeon is able to give the patient some power over time - after all, with his help, you can significantly change your appearance, going back five to ten years.

When does the need for plastic surgery arise?

It is quite difficult to answer this question. A person can feel dissatisfaction with their appearance at any age. This can be caused by various reasons, but plastic surgery is always ready to help, even for people of advanced age. For such clients, there is always the opportunity to offer easily tolerated, minimally invasive methods that will not affect their overall well-being.

Women are most often interested in at what age they should resort to operations aimed at facial rejuvenation. In principle, the need for such a procedure is largely determined by the woman’s internal needs, and not by her age. It all depends on the condition of the facial skin, as well as on the woman’s strong desire to undergo plastic surgery.

It is worth noting that the operation and time of year are not affected. The only thing worth taking care of is having enough free time, which will be required during the rehabilitation period.

What operations can plastic surgery offer?

The following plastic surgeries can be performed on both men and women:

Neck and face rejuvenation

Circular, ultrasonic, ligature lift

Plastic surgery of ears and nose

Nostril correction

Body rejuvenation

Abdominoplasty (removal of skin and fat deposits)

Plastic surgeries that help solve appearance problems exclusively for women:

Intimate plastic surgery

Breast correction

Plastic surgery to solve appearance problems in men:

Correction of gynecomastia

Plastic surgery of intimate areas

Penis enlargement
Liposuction of the pubis
Foreskin correction

Contraindications to plastic surgery:

Cancer detection
Pregnancy and lactation periods
Severe forms of chronic diseases of internal organs
Menstrual period
Some types of allergies
Arterial hypertension
Serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system
Mental illnesses
All forms of diabetes

If a patient has a tendency to form keloid scars, then such patients usually do not undergo plastic surgery. Also, many operations have age restrictions (that is, they are not performed on patients who have not reached the age of majority), but there are some exceptions to this rule - for example, ear plastic surgery is allowed from the age of six. In some cases, contraindications to plastic surgery may include hereditary predispositions that can lead to complications or negative consequences, the patient’s lack of understanding of the need for plastic surgery, and other factors.

The outer ear consists of cartilage tissue. It is located at an angle of 30 degrees to the head. Sometimes this parameter turns out to be larger. Then a correction is required. It is also prescribed for deformation of cartilage, to change the size of the hearing organ. In most cases, otoplasty is prescribed.

Otoplasty

This is a type of surgery aimed at changing the appearance of the outer ear. There are more than 200 types of such manipulations. Their peculiarity is that the function of the ear cannot be changed during the process, which is why otoplasty is often called a cosmetic procedure. With its help, it is possible to eliminate external defects.

Indications

The procedure is recommended for correcting the shape of the outer ear starting from the age of five. By this time, the process of formation of the hearing organ is completed. There are no age restrictions for adults. Indications for cosmetic manipulation are:

asymmetry,
irregular shape of the auricle,
partial or complete absence of shell.

The latter pathology can be either congenital or acquired.

What doctors say about otoplasty:

Species

Depending on the purpose of otoplasty, it is divided into two types:

Reconstructive. It is carried out to eliminate congenital or acquired defects.
Aesthetic. It is carried out to correct the shape and location of the ears.

Reconstructive

This type allows you to restore serious defects. The creation of the auricle is carried out in several stages. This may take a year or more. The process creates a cartilaginous frame based on the costal cartilage. It is then placed in place of the missing ear in a skin pocket.

Such a frame needs several months to take root in a new place. it is then detached from the head, forming the earlobe in the desired position.

During the final manipulations, the wound behind the ear is closed with a skin graft, which is also taken from the patient. Only after this the tragus and depressions are formed. Thanks to these actions, the newly created ear has all the basic elements.

Reconstructive otoplasty before and after

Aesthetic

With this type, only part of the ear is corrected, for example, the lobe or tip. This operation is performed only to improve the patient's appearance. It allows you to press your ears closer to your head.

The cause may be a split earlobe. This is not always a birth defect. Sometimes its appearance is associated with the use of heavy earrings. This operation is usually performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.

The photo shows the result of aesthetic otoplasty

Techniques

There are several types of impact:

laser,
closed,
open.

Laser

This is an atraumatic correction using a laser beam. This method of exposure prevents the appearance of various suppurations. This type is practically bloodless, since the vessels heal very quickly. With this tool you can:

reduce or increase the size of the auricle,
eliminate protruding ears,
restore the relief of the ears.

The operation is performed under local anesthesia. After it, there are practically no scars left, and the blood vessels are tightened almost instantly. The ears look natural.

Closed

To carry out manipulations on the necessary tissues, punctures are made on the back surface of the ear. They are so small that no stitches are required. The advantages include minimal blood loss, reduced risk of colloid scar formation, and reduced surgery duration.

After the operation, the ears are supplemented with tampons and gauze soaked in an alcohol solution. After this, a fixing bandage is applied.

Open

This technique is considered classic. During the process, the ear is treated with an antiseptic; an incision is made behind the shell and a small area of dermis is excised.

Then the cartilage tissue is modeled taking into account the characteristics of the defect. Sometimes some of the cartilage is removed. Sometimes during open surgery the cartilage is folded and secured with a special suture.

How is open otoplasty performed?

Carrying out

Preparation

Before the operation you need to undergo a full medical examination. A urine and blood test is taken, a test for antigens and antibodies, and a test for syphilis.

It’s best to start preparing your body a few days in advance. To do this, take vitamins and follow a diet. Within two weeks, you should stop taking medications that affect blood clotting. About 4 hours before the start, stop drinking and eating.

Progress of the operation

First, the appropriate type of anesthesia is selected. It depends on:

patient's age,
complexity of the operation,
the expected duration of the manipulations,
the presence of concomitant pathologies.

Treatment options depend on the anatomy and the problem itself. If the classic type of otoplasty is chosen, the incision is made behind the ear. The cartilage is removed or shaped to give the ear an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The duration of the manipulation depends on the degree of complexity. On average, it takes from 30 minutes to two hours per patient. The patient remains in the clinic for several hours. An adult can do normal activities the next day. Children are freed from lessons for a week.

After the work is completed, medical napkins and a special bandage are applied. A tampon with special pads is inserted into the ear canal. It should be changed every three days.

Demonstration of the key points of ear otoplasty:

Rehabilitation and recovery

After the procedure, the doctor prescribes. Patients usually feel discomfort for no more than a day. remain expressed for several more days.

During the recovery process, a bandage is worn that fixes the ears in a special position. Patients need to take care. The stitches are removed after about 7 days.

The full recovery period lasts up to 6 months. For 5-8 weeks, the patient is recommended to wear a special fixing bandage at night. You can wash your hair only after two weeks.

Otoplasty of ears for protruding ears

Dangerous symptoms to watch out for

After surgery, pay attention to the appearance. This side effect can be avoided by taking tests in advance. It may not take more than a day. Up to three days this is considered normal. On days 11-16 after plastic surgery, swelling and cyanosis of the ears will persist. All this time, the pain may be replaced by goosebumps or.

Pay attention if the pain does not go away for a long time or if the body temperature rises. Perhaps the inflammation has spread beyond the ear area.

When is a repeat procedure necessary?

Repeated surgery will be required if:

the result was not fully achieved,
there was a decrease in effect
there is asymmetry of the ears,
development occurred
a colloidal scar appeared.

Most often they reapply due to insufficient effect. Asymmetry may occur if the operation was performed on only one ear.

Possible complications

All complications are divided into two groups: early and late. The former appear immediately, the latter are usually delayed. Early ones include hematoma and infection. The pressure exerted on the ear cartilage by a hematoma can lead to. Infection becomes the cause of purulent chondritis.

Late complications include suture problems and aesthetic problems. The first case is not so rare, but the patient may encounter a problem at any stage of the postoperative period. Treatment consists of removing the failed suture. Aesthetic consequences include an incorrect relationship between the hearing organ and the scalp.

Changes in cartilage tissue after otoplasty

What do you need to know?

Otoplasty is best performed at 5-8 years of age. At this time, the cartilage is already formed, but the body recovers very quickly. However, adults can undergo such treatment at any stage.

Despite the presence of contraindications, the advantages of otoplasty include the ability to correct significant ear defects. The operation can take place on one or two ears at once. However, there are no vital medical indications for this operation.

If you follow medical recommendations, a positive effect is achieved in 99% of cases. Recommendations include using a headband, avoiding wearing glasses and earrings, not blow-drying your hair, and avoiding swimming pools and saunas.

Nastya (years old, Simferopol), 04/05/2018

Hello, sorry for bothering you, I had otoplasty 5 days ago, on the 4th day I was allowed to wash my hair, but I haven’t washed it yet, I’m just getting ready to, please tell me how not to wash it? Is it possible to tilt your head over the bathtub? After all, bending over is not recommended. And also, it’s very difficult to wash your hair without getting the seams wet, is it okay if they get wet? Thank you in advance for your answer, since it is not yet possible to contact the surgeon. And I simply forgot to ask these questions earlier.

Hello, Nastya. You can wash your hair on the third day after surgery. Washing upside down is acceptable; the seams can be wetted, but must be dried after washing.

Anton (24 years old, Moscow), 03/30/2018

I'm interested in a fairly standard question. I have a serious job, almost no days off, but I am planning to have otoplasty because I am unhappy with the shape of my ears. How many days after this can I return to work, and how long will I have to wear the bandage? Best regards, Anton.

Hello, Anton! After surgery to correct the shape of the ears, it is necessary to constantly wear a bandage for a whole week. And then for another 14 days you will need to wear it at night. It is not recommended to go to work for 7-14 days, depending on the patient’s well-being. If you intend to return from sick leave, you should limit physical labor and sports. Sincerely, plastic surgeon Maxim Osin.

Daria (20 years old, Moscow), 02/26/2018

Hello! I'm interested in the process of otoplasty. Is the cartilage removed or are the ears simply folded over? And most importantly: they will not return to their previous state? Thanks for the information.

Good morning! There are different methods for performing this operation. Each doctor uses his own technique. I use a method without removing cartilage. Regarding returns, I have not observed such cases in my practice.

Arina (27 years old, Moscow), 06/06/2017

Hello! My name is Arina. I have severe protruding ears, which I decided to remove surgically in your clinic. The only thing that bothers me is that I have a little daughter. Can I continue breastfeeding, since for me this is a fundamentally important question. Very grateful for your time. Sincerely.

Good afternoon, Arina. During the rehabilitation period, you will not be able to breastfeed. Within a week after ear surgery, you will be able to continue breastfeeding. Sincerely, plastic surgeon Maxim Osin!

Olga (28 years old, St. Petersburg), 06/01/2017

Question! Do I need to stay in the clinic after otoplasty? Since I will come for the operation from another city. I need to understand how long everything will last. Olga. Petersburg.

Good afternoon, Olga. The ear surgery itself can last from 40 minutes to an hour. But after surgery, we recommend that each patient spend the night in the clinic so that we can monitor the postoperative condition. If you wish, you can leave the hospital immediately after otoplasty. Let me remind you that you should wear a special bandage for another 10 days after the operation. Sincerely, plastic surgeon Maxim Osin!

Maxim (26 years old, Moscow), 05/31/2017

Tell me, will my hearing change after otoplasty? Maybe he will improve?

Good afternoon, Maxim. Otoplasty does not in any way affect your ability to distinguish sounds. Of course, we tell all patients that the shape of the shells orients them in space, so even if the defect is in one ear, we recommend performing otoplasty on the second ear.

Timur (33 years old, Moscow), 05/30/2017

Hello! My name is Timur, I'm 33 years old. When I was young, I pierced both my ears, but now I hold a very prestigious position, so I had to take off my jewelry. Tell me, is it possible, using your skill, to make sure that there are no holes left from the earrings?

Hello, Timur! Puncture holes heal on their own. If we talk about plastic surgery, then barely noticeable linear scars will remain. It may be worth waiting for them to heal on their own. Sincerely, plastic surgeon Maxim Osin!

Natalia (29 years old, Klimovsk), 05/28/2017

Good afternoon My husband has a congenital defect - no earlobe. Frankly, I don’t pay much attention to this, but my husband is very worried. Of course, this creates certain difficulties for him in communicating with people. Is it possible to have surgery in this case?

Good day! Yes, I work with similar defects. The technique of the operation is quite simple. 7 days after the operation, your husband’s stitches will be removed, after which he will forget about his defect. Sincerely, plastic surgeon Maxim Osin!

Good afternoon In this case we are talking about reconstructive otoplasty. Please note that this operation is performed even on children, but from the age of 7, since it is during this period that we can consider the ear cartilage to be formed. Of course, the most difficult thing is to make the ears symmetrical, but this is where the surgeon’s experience comes into play. Sincerely, plastic surgeon Maxim Osin!

They can be eliminated either surgically or conservatively, depending on the clinical situation.

Asymmetry of the ears

It is discovered some time after the operation, when the swelling subsides and the bandages and sutures are removed.

Complete symmetry of the ears is quite difficult to achieve, so minor asymmetry does not require repeated surgical intervention. If the asymmetry is significant, then a repeat operation is performed.

Prevention of complications after otoplasty

It is not recommended to wash your hair for some time after surgery. For 1-2 months after surgery, you should not engage in active or traumatic sports. In addition, in the first time after surgery, you should carefully avoid household head injuries, which can lead to damage to the ears.

The risk of complications after otoplasty will be minimized if the patient carefully selects a qualified plastic surgeon and also carefully follows his recommendations in the postoperative period.