Ear Surgery And Cosmetic Procedure – What’s The Difference?
Ear surgery or reconstructive plastic surgery for ears and cosmetic surgery, though, are closely related, but technically there is a fine division between the both. Both of these are generally considered subspecialties of plastic surgery.
What is ear surgery?
Ear surgery, or otoplasty in medical terms, helps improve an ear’s shape, position, and proportion. It is often done to restore function and normal appearance of the ear and correct deformities present at birth or when they become apparent with development. This procedure also includes surgery to treat misshapen ears caused due to injury or an accident.
Ear surgery offers a more natural shape of the ear and focuses on bringing balance and proportion to the ears and face. Correcting even minor deformities often brings profound benefits to the appearance of an individual and helps him regain self-esteem. If protruding or misaligned ears are a hindrance for you or your child, then ear surgery can rectify it.
What is cosmetic ear surgery?
Cosmetic ear surgery, on the other hand, can enhance your overall cosmetic appearance. It is done by reshaping and adjusting normal anatomy to make it more visually appealing. However, unlike ear surgery, it is not considered a medical necessity and is done only to enhance aesthetic appearance. The most common cosmetic ear surgery procedure involves moving very large or prominent ears closer to the head.
Complications and side effects of a cosmetic ear surgery
Like any other surgery, cosmetic ear surgery also bears certain risks, including bleeding, infection, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Although the majority of patients do not experience significant complications, there are chances of:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Change in skin sensation
- Ear trauma
- Skin contour irregularities
- Skin scarring
- Asymmetry
- Delayed healing
- Allergic reactions
Things to remember before having ear surgery
According to the best ENT doctors in Chennai, you need to remember the following things before your ear surgery:
- Don’t take any medicines without consulting your surgeon. Especially avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroid and anti-inflammatory medications for two weeks before surgery. These medications cause the blood to thin and can cause bleeding complications.
- Avoid smoking two weeks before and after the surgery, as tobacco can delay healing.
- No alcoholic beverages should be taken 48 hours prior to surgery.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the previous surgery night.
What to expect from ear surgery?
In general, plastic surgery on an ear takes about two hours and is performed under local or general anesthesia. During the surgery, the doctor makes an incision behind the ear and exposes the cartilage for folding, reshaping, and repositioning the ear to make it closer to your head. The surgeon may remove the skin before suturing the affected area.
Endoscopic ear surgery in Chennai involves its own process and usually varies depending on the practitioner performing the surgery. You can go for a thorough consultation with your doctor before the ear surgery to better understand what you can expect during the surgery.
Cost of ear surgery
Ear surgery cost in Chennai and other cities of India depends on the technique, the problem, and the medical facilities being offered. This surgery treats mainly three broad cases:
- Abnormally large ears – Macrotia in medical terms
- Droopy or split earlobes
- Lop ears folded at the top
The ear surgery cost in India ranges between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 and also depends on multiple factors, including:
- Surgeon’s fees
- Facility expenses
- Anesthesia costs
- Follow-up charges
- Prescription medications
- The general health of the patient
- Choice of your hospital
- Cost of diagnostic tests
How to pay for ear surgery with no-cost EMI
It is possible to pay for your ear surgery with no-cost EMI. You can avail of a loan facility from GMoney and repay in easy EMIs. No-cost EMI is the facility from GMoney where your total medical expenses are divided into smaller equal monthly installments, thus allowing you to pay for your medical expenses in an easy manner. These zero-cost EMIs are free of interest and can be repaid in 3 to 18 months.
You can easily apply for medical finance assistance from GMoney online by providing your basic details. If eligible, the approved loan amount is instantly transferred to the hospital’s bank account when you are under treatment, thus freeing you from the worries of your medical expenses.
Conclusion
The fine line between ear surgery and the cosmetic procedure gets further blurred when it comes to insurance coverage. Certain ear conditions can be either classified as reconstructive or cosmetic depending on the patient’s specific condition. You need to check with your health insurance provider whether the surgery is covered in mediclaim or not. However, you can always take the help of GMoney for your surgery and pay in easy, no-cost EMIs.
FAQs
1) Can a torn earlobe be treated in an ear surgery?
Yes, it is possible to rectify a torn earlobe through surgery. However, a fully split earlobe will require more steps at the time of surgery than a slightly ripped earlobe, but a plastic surgeon can provide you with the most desired results.
2) What to do if you face any problems after the ear surgery?
If there is a problem after the surgery, you must immediately meet your doctor without delay. However, you must:
- Keep the inside of the ear dry
- Shower after 48 hours of surgery
- Place a piece of cotton ball coated with Vaseline in the outside bowl of your ear.
- Do not strain on the toilet or blow your nose.
3) What are the side effects of ear surgery?
- Pain around the surgical area
- Numbness around the incision
- Strange sounds, including clicking, popping, ringing, and similar
- Soreness of the lips
- Jaw or neck pain
- Headache and fatigue
4) When should you consider ear surgery?
You can consider ear surgery to treat:
- Overly large ears that destroy your self-esteem
- Protruding ears on one or both sides in varying degrees
- Dissatisfaction with previous ear surgery
- To treat torn ear lobes
- To treat unusual shapes of the ear
- Ear infections or ear pains
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