1. Inner or Outer
Ear surgery is done for a variety of reason. Genetic factors such as deformities and improper tubal placement can be corrected with surgery if they cause hearing loss. Cosmetic surgery can correct a deformed ear or stretch the skin and pin the ears back when they stick out too far. A cochlear implant to increase hearing in the deaf requires a surgical procedure. Also, persistent infections that could cause severe hearing loss are often remedied through surgery. Most often, doctors try to treat ear problems without surgery because the inner ear is too sensitive. Surgery is often the last recourse.
2. Prepare by Being Well
Ear surgery should never be performed on people who currently have any kind of ear infection. If infections are persistent and untreatable, then other avenues should be explored, such as higher doses of antibiotics, eardrops and lifestyle changes. Some foods may cause allergic reactions that set up the immunity system for increased infections. Most ear surgery is done by microsurgery, but the patient must be in good health to proceed. Sinus problems also should be cleared up before surgery is done.
3. Save Your Hearing
When physicians follow the correct protocols and perform surgery only on patients healthy enough to withstand the invasion, the risk of side effects is rare. Total hearing loss is rarely seen following ear surgeries. More often, the patient hears better, if for no other reason than the walls of the ear canal have been cleared.
4. Look Better
Deformed or protruding ears can really take away from an otherwise fine looking face. Growing your hair to cover ugly ears often only exacerbates the problem and emphasizes the problem. Children are prime candidate for cosmetic ear surgery, often done at an early age to prevent the child from teasing and embarrassment in school. The ears are fully developed by age four and surgery can take place any time after that. Ear pinning is one of the more common ear treatments and is not as invasive as other plastic surgery. The procedure is done in the doctor's office and can be completed in less than two hours. Reconstructive surgery is more intense and often involves taking skin from other body parts, such as the buttocks and upper thighs, to rebuild the faulty ear.
5. Ear Tubes
The use of tubes inserted in the ear pathways for children who get ear infections a lot, is a controversial procedure. Some doctors rely on this procedure, while others question the practice. Parents should weigh the risks of the side effects versus the possible end to ear infections. The surgery is becoming more common and the tubes are typically only left in temporarily to let infections drain properly.
