Have you been self-conscious about the prominence of your ears for as long as you can remember? Were you recently injured and feel like ear surgery could benefit you? If so, now may be the right time for you to consider otoplasty at New England Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center in Weymouth, MA. To help you determine whether this procedure is right for you, keep reading to learn more about it.
What Is the Right Age to Get Surgery for Prominent Ears?
There’s not really a right age to get surgery for prominent ears, though ear surgery isn’t recommended until the ears have finished growing fully. Depending on sex, nutrition, and other factors, this usually occurs between the ages of five and seven.
How Long Will My Recovery Period Be?
Numerous factors affect how long you can expect your recovery to take, including your age, overall health, and adherence to pre- and post-operative guidelines. Generally, the younger you are, the faster you can expect to recover. This is because your skin needs lots of collagen to heal itself, and your body’s collagen production rate decreases starting around the age of 25.
While some procedures require several months for recovery, otoplasty only requires two to three weeks. During this time, your head will be bandaged to help promote localized blood flow and keep the incision sites clean and dry. To facilitate rapid healing, it is strongly encouraged that for two weeks post-op you sleep with your head elevated by two or three pillows. During this time, you should also sleep on your back and do your best to not wear glasses.
How Long Will I Have to Take Off From Work?
You can generally expect to need to dedicate 10 days solely to your recovery. Therefore, you can expect to need around eight days off from work depending on when your procedure is scheduled. Generally, this procedure can be completed in just a couple of hours. You may want to schedule your surgery for a Friday afternoon to help you minimize the amount of PTO you will need to take.
Note, there are numerous factors affecting how long you will need to take off from work. One of the most significant factors is the nature of your job; you should plan to need more time off from work if you have a strenuous job. If you have a sedentary job, you may be able to go to work just a week after surgery. The scope of your procedure will also affect how quickly you will be able to return to your job.
What Can I Do to Recover Faster?
To recover as quickly as possible, you need to make caring for yourself your top priority. If you have any pets or children you are responsible for, we strongly recommend asking someone to stay with you for the first 24 to 72 hours post-op. There will be a number of restrictions on what you can do, like bending over and lifting things that weigh more than 10 pounds. As hard as it is to put yourself first, it will help you recover faster so you can return to caring for your loved ones.
One of the most effective ways you can care for yourself so your recovery period is shorter is to stay hydrated. We recommend keeping a container of water near you at all times. If you notice your urine is dark, set alarms or timers on your phone to help you remember to drink water. If you feel like you’re sick and tired of drinking water, brighten it up with some lime juice or diffuse some of your favorite fruits in a pitcher of water or tea.
What Else Can I Do to Recover Faster?
You can also speed up your recovery significantly by sleeping as much as you can. You may want to stop hydrating a couple of hours before bedtime so you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to urinate. The more consecutive sleep you get, the more time you will spend in the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of the sleep cycle.
Am I a Good Ear Surgery Candidate?
To find out if you’re a good ear surgery candidate, you need to come in for an initial consultation. We need to make sure this procedure will be safe for you by discussing your health in great detail. We will review your health history, current health, and the drugs and supplements you have taken recently. We will also discuss your goals and evaluate your concerns to verify that this procedure will be effective for you.
Schedule Your Initial Otoplasty Consultation Today
There isn’t a hard-and-fast right age to get ear surgery. There is a very good chance that you will be considered a good otoplasty candidate if you are concerned about the prominence of your ears. However, the only way to find out for sure whether this procedure is right for you is to sit down with a surgeon and discuss your health, concerns, and goals. Schedule an appointment now at New England Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center in Weymouth, MA.