Ear Pinning in New Orleans, LA

Prominent ears that protrude outward, are asymmetrical or misshapen, or look too large can affect your self-confidence, especially during childhood. Otoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that resizes and reshapes the ears. At New Orleans Plastic Surgery in Louisiana, Dr. Michelle Eagan has helped many patients feel more confident in their appearance with ear reshaping surgery. If you feel embarrassed by your ears, we encourage you to learn more about ear pinning. Please contact our office in New Orleans, LA to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eagan.

There are a number of reasons patients in New Orleans, LA choose ear pinning. This procedure is safe, effective, and can greatly improve your appearance when common cosmetic issues impact your self-confidence. Dr. Eagan understands the importance of creating natural-looking results tailored to your individual needs. Additional benefits of ear surgery include:

• Reduce the size and/or change the shape of your ears
• Enhance facial symmetry and balance
• Make ears seem less prominent or misshapen
• Correct stretched or damaged earlobes
• Outcomes that look and feel realistic

We can perform otoplasty on patients who are at least six years old. For younger children, we recommend having them undergo ear pinning surgery before attending elementary school. This surgery is safe and effective for younger children. Additionally, this surgery can help older patients who feel frustrated because of the size and shape of their ears. Ear surgery can also treat stretched or damaged earlobes from earrings or gauges. During your consultation, Dr. Eagan will develop a treatment plan that addresses your needs.

To help keep you comfortable during your procedure, we use general anesthesia or IV sedation. For many patients, the incision is made around the back portion of the ear or inside the inner ear. During this procedure, we will reshape the cartilage to create a new structure and natural-looking appearance. To ensure your ears look even, Dr. Eagan will perform the procedure on both ears. Once we have treated both ears, the incisions are closed with sutures, and the area is bandaged so they can properly heal.

After carefully monitoring you, we will discharge you to recover at home. Before sending you home, Dr. Eagan or a member of her team will provide detailed aftercare instructions to help with recovery. One of the most important things for you to remember is to not touch or scratch your ears. Additionally, for the first several days, you should not lay on your ears. Instead, we recommend sleeping in an upright position. To ensure your ears heal properly, Dr. Eagan will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress. Generally, Dr. Eagan will take the bandages off in about a week. Once we take the bandages off, you can see noticeable results right away, which will continue to improve as the ears heal.

The cost of your ear surgery depends on the treatment method, such as ear pinning, shaping, earlobe repair, or a combination of these. Once Dr. Eagan understands your concerns, she will create your surgical plan and determine the expenses. To get the outcomes you want, we highly recommend focusing on a good surgeon and not just the costs. At New Orleans Plastic Surgery, we take several payment options, and we can help you obtain low-interest medical financing.

How much does ear surgery cost?
The cost for ear surgery will be based on what's being performed (ear shaping, pinning, earlobe repair, or a combination). Once Dr. Eagan understands your issues and wants, she will create your surgical plan and estimate expenses. In order to focus on getting the results you need instead of costs, New Orleans Plastic Surgery takes several payments, and a member of our team will help you find low-interest medical financing.

Will the results of ear surgery last?
The ears typically grow faster than other areas of the body and face, so ear surgery can be carried out on younger patients with long-term outcomes. Dr. Eagan will examine the ears and then discuss what to expect and how long the results should last. Even as the face and body can change due to gravity and age, the impact on the ears will probably be minimal. In the event there are dramatic changes to your ears because of an injury, another otoplasty might be done.

How old should my child be to consider otoplasty?
Normally, kids about 5 – 6 years of age are ideal candidates for ear surgery. While the ear is usually fully developed, the tissue and cartilage are still soft, which makes it easy to reshape. This age is also good as it's before they begin school or early in their schooling, so they can avoid teasing. Although many ear surgery patients are young children, Dr. Eagan also performs otoplasty on adults.

Can ear pinning correct earlobe issues as well?
Yes, ear pinning can also address and correct stretched or damaged earlobes as part of the procedure.

How long does the surgery take?
The ear pinning procedure usually takes about 1 – 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the surgery and whether one or both ears are being corrected.

What should be avoided after ear pinning surgery?
After surgery, it's important to avoid any activity that could strain or impact the ears, such as sports or sleeping on your side. Follow our team at New Orleans Plastic Surgery's aftercare instructions to ensure proper healing and the best possible outcome.

While the ears are not very big, an unusual position, shape, or size can make a significant difference in your appearance. Ear surgery or otoplasty may help your child avoid getting teased at school, or help you if you feel self-conscious about your ears. Please contact New Orleans Plastic Surgery in Louisiana to schedule your appointment with Dr. Eagan and receive additional information about ear reshaping surgery. Our team looks forward to helping you feel your best.