Ear surgery

Why might ear surgery be considered?

Ear surgery (otoplasty) is a procedure sometimes sought by people who have concerns about the position or prominence of their ears. In individuals under 18 years, Medicare recognises otoplasty as a procedure performed for medical rather than cosmetic reasons.

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty): Risks and Complications

Otoplasty is a surgical procedure intended to change the shape, position, or proportion of the ears. This typically involves modifying the auricular cartilage. While Dr Sophie Ricketts employs rigorous clinical risk management protocols, it is essential for patients to be aware of the potential complications associated with this surgery.

General Surgical Risks

• Anaesthesia-Related Risks: Potential adverse reactions to the medications used for sedation or general anaesthesia.

• Infection: Risk of infection in the skin or the deeper cartilage (chondritis). Cartilage infections are serious and may require intravenous antibiotics or further surgery.

• Haematoma: A collection of blood under the skin of the ear, which may cause pain and require urgent surgical drainage to prevent cartilage damage.

• Poor Wound Healing: Slow healing or wound breakdown along the incisions, often located behind the ear.

Specific Risks of Otoplasty

• Permanent Scarring: All incisions result in permanent scars. While usually positioned in the posterior fold (behind the ear) to be less visible, scars can occasionally become thick, red, or itchy (keloid or hypertrophic scarring).

• Asymmetry: Because healing is unpredictable and ears are rarely identical naturally, perfect symmetry is not a guaranteed outcome.

• Suture Complications: Sutures used to pin the cartilage may surface through the skin (suture spitting) or become visible, requiring removal.

• Overcorrection: The ears may appear “pinned back” too closely to the head, or the contours may appear unnatural.

• Changes in Sensation: Temporary or permanent numbness or altered sensitivity in the ear or surrounding scalp skin.

• Recurrence: In some cases, the cartilage may gradually return to its original position, necessitating revision surgery.

• Skin Necrosis: A rare but serious complication where the blood supply to the ear skin is compromised, leading to tissue loss.

Your Consultation Process

A consultation with Dr Sophie Ricketts, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, is a comprehensive clinical assessment to determine your suitability for surgery. This process is designed to ensure you are fully informed of the potential risks, expected clinical outcomes, and available non-surgical alternatives relevant to your circumstances.

In accordance with the Medical Board of Australia’s mandatory guidelines for cosmetic surgery:

• Clinical Evaluation: Dr Ricketts will assess your medical history and physical anatomy to determine if the procedure is clinically appropriate.

• Psychological Screening: A mandatory assessment for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and psychological readiness is required for all patients.

• GP Referral: You must provide a valid referral from your General Practitioner prior to your initial consultation.

• Two-Stage Process: A minimum of two pre-operative consultations is required.

• Cooling-Off Period: After your second consultation, a mandatory 7-day cooling-off period must elapse before any surgery can be booked or payments made.