Post Otoplasty Instructions

Call our office promptly if:

You have increase pain after the first 24 hours following surgery.
You have a temperature elevation over 100 degrees.
The dressing shifts or falls off.
The ear is injured after the dressing is removed, if there is any increasing pain or change in the shape of the ear.

If any of the above should occur after regular office hours, we can be reached 24 hours a day through our answering service at 612-844-0404.

What Can I Expect?

Following surgery, a bulky bandage will be wrapped around the head, covering the ears. Associated with this, there will be a fair amount of pressure.
A mild amount of pain and discomfort will also be associated with surgery. This can be easily managed with oral medications following surgery as prescribed by your doctor. Most children require only plain Tylenol, and Tylenol with Codeine for adults is always sufficient.
The discomfort should begin decreasing within 48 hours of surgery and an increase in pain following that requires that you contact your surgeon.
Hairstyling and shampooing are a problem following surgery until the dressings are removed. A dry shampoo is permissible, but getting the hair wet is not recommended until the dressing is removed.

Leave the dressing over the ears undisturbed.
Take antibiotics and pain medications as prescribed by your surgeon.
One week following surgery, the dressings and sutures will be removed.
Often for children, the sutures dissolve spontaneously.
For an additional three weeks after surgery, a light supportive elastic band over the ears is worn at night to prevent inadvertent injury to the ears.
Sleep with the head elevated for the first 24-48 hours.
Heat and ice in the first 3 days after surgery are impractical as the bulky dressing will prevent their use.

These are approximate recovery otoplasty guidelines:
1 DAY Return Home
1-2 DAYS Aching, throbbing
3-6 DAYS Bandage off; stitches out or dissolve

For printable list of otoplasty post-op care instructions please click here.