Ronald J. Caniglia, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Otoplasty, also known as ear pinning, is a surgical procedure designed to set abnormally protruding ears back closer to the head, thus restoring the normal relationship of the ears with the scalp. The typical patient is a young child, usually 4-5 years in age. However, this procedure can be performed on patients of all ages.
Dr. Caniglia performs the otoplasty procedure at the Plastic Surgery Center at Kierland (PSCK), located in the Caniglia Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. The PSCK is an AAAHC-accredited outpatient surgery center that is licensed by both the state and Medicare. Most otoplasty surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis and take an average of one hour to complete. Dr. Caniglia prefers to use local anesthesia with intravenous sedation (twilight sleep) for the surgery, however general anesthesia may be required for younger patients.
Once adequate local anesthesia and sedation have been administered, Dr. Caniglia will make an incision hidden within the naturally occurring crease behind the ear. The skin is then elevated on the back side of the ear and permanent sutures are placed in the cartilage underneath the skin. The placement and the degree of tightening of these sutures will determine how much the ears are set back. Once the ears are in their desired position, the incision behind the ear is closed with dissolvable sutures and a light gauze wrap is placed around the ears.
Most patients feel fine the next day with little to no discomfort. The gauze wrap is removed on the morning after surgery. Patients may experience some tenderness at night when laying on the ears, but this quickly passes. It is helpful to wear a light headband while sleeping for the first two months. All sutures will dissolve on their own and need not be removed. Most patients can return to work and most other normal activities within two to three days, though exercise and other strenuous activities should be postponed for ten to fourteen days. Complications associated with otoplasty are generally rare but may include infection, hematoma, asymmetry, extrusion of suture and loss of cartilage.
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