The Importance of the Appearance of Ears By Joseph M. Brown, MD, FACS on August 24, 2021

Our ears were designed with function in mind. The shape of your visible ear isn’t an accident. According to Johns Hopkins, those curves and almost tunnel-like structures are actually built to actively collect sound waves so they can be channeled directly into the ear canal. Once inside the ear canal, those same sound waves are amplified and sent onto the eardrum where they cause the vibrations we understand as sound. But what about the importance of the appearance of ears.

The Importance of the Appearance of Ears

In truth, our ears are a bit of a scientific miracle. They can successfully translate sound waves and the resulting vibrations into stimuli. Our brains understand this input as a wide variety of sounds. Those small appendages and corresponding parts create a huge part of our lived experience and enable verbal communication. Regardless of your ears’ appearance, they are remarkable, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to be bothered by your ears.

Struggling with Ear Aesthetics

Many people struggle with the appearance of their ears. They may feel that they’re too big or too small. They may feel like they stick out from their head too far or have an odd shape. In reality, everyone’s ears are shaped a little differently, and it’s up to you to decide if you’re happy with the appearance of your own ears.

Do think they compliment your face or give you a unique look you love? Then lean into that because your opinion is the only one that matters. However, if you find yourself hyper-focusing on your ears or hiding them with your hair or hats, then you may want to consider cosmetic ear surgery in Tampa.

What is Cosmetic Ear Surgery?

The term cosmetic ear surgery can describe any procedure that can improve the appearance of your ears. Your board-certified surgeon can adjust the size, shape, and position of your visible ear structures. Combined this can create more aesthetically pleasing ears. Your surgeon can help make suggestions, of course, but you should start by deciding what specific changes you would like to see.

As for the procedure itself, otoplasty is relatively simple when compared to other cosmetic surgeries. It’s an outpatient procedure that only takes 2-3 hours on average. Your surgeon will use either general or local anesthetic with sedation based on the level of complexity involved. After the procedure is complete, your ears will be bandaged. You will be allowed to recover enough for a family member or friend to drive you home.

The initial stages of recovery lasts for about a week. During this period, you can expect bruising, swelling, and some bleeding. It sounds bad, but most patients return to work in about a week, and your surgeon will use specialized techniques to hide any resulting scars. Once you’re done healing, no one should be able to tell you’ve had an otoplasty.

Starting the Process

If otoplasty appeals to you, the best way to start is to contact your local board-certified plastic surgeon at the premier location for Tampa plastic surgery. During your initial consultation, you can review your surgeon’s portfolio and discuss the changes you would like to see. Once you’ve agreed on what needs to be done, your surgeon can go over the ins and outs of your individual case.