“I had a wonderful experience with Patrick, he is not only a great surgeon but he has extraordinary empathy and I always felt totally at ease with him.”
Surgery is usually carried out under General Anaesthetic and takes around 1-2 hrs in theatre, providing the surgery goes well, patients can return home the same day.
Incisions are made discreetly in the fold behind the ear, which in turn means scarring is barely visible, the cartilaginous structure is then refined or thinned. If larger lobes are a concern, incisions may also be required on the lobe to allow the reshaping of the area and to create a more aesthetically pleasing ear lobe.
The incisions are then sutured and surgical bandages and a compression garment are placed on the area to immobilise the ears and promote healing, this is usually required to remain in situ for 7 days post operatively.
The risks of elective surgery should always be considered prior to the procedure, common concerns following surgery can include bleeding, asymmetry, delayed healing and infection, these are short term risks and should subside as the ears begin the heal.
More uncommon complications can include sensitivity or numbness which can last several months and in rare cases can be permanent. Occasionally patients can experience thick or raised scarring which may require further treatment.