Incisionless Otoplasty: Current State of the Art

Cibele Madsen Buba; Andres M. Gantous

doi:10.1055/a-2447-0134

Facial Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

Facial Plast Surg 2025; 41(02): 179-185
DOI: 10.1055/a-2447-0134

Original Article

Incisionless Otoplasty: Current State of the Art

Cibele Madsen Buba

¹Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

,

Andres M. Gantous

¹Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Prominent ears, also known as prominauris, inflict psychological distress and suffering on both children and adults. Otoplasty has become one of the most common aesthetic operations due to its high prevalence and significant impact on patients. Various surgical techniques for otoplasty have been documented and developed over time. While complications are rare, open and cartilage-resection techniques may result in hemorrhage, hematomas, contour deformities, hypertrophic scarring, and keloid formation. Incisionless otoplasty has been demonstrated in the literature to be an effective method, when correctly indicated, to correct prominauris with a shorter recovery time and reduced morbidity. A thorough preoperative evaluation, awareness of the different techniques, and assessment of their appropriate application minimize potential risks and unpleasant results.

Keywords

prominent ears - protruding ears - prominauris - otoplasty - incisionless otoplasty - percutaneous otoplasty

Full Text

References

References
1 Gantous A. Incisionless otoplasty. Adv Cosmet Surg 2020; 3 (01) 69-76
2 Adamson PA, Strecker HD. Otoplasty techniques. Facial Plast Surg 1995; 11 (04) 284-300
3 Gantous A, Tasman AJ, Neves JC. Management of the prominent ear. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2018; 26 (02) 181-192
4 Haytoglu S, Haytoglu TG, Bayar Muluk N, Kuran G, Arikan OK. Comparison of two incisionless otoplasty techniques for prominent ears in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2015; 79 (04) 504-510
5 AlAwadh I, Alassiry H, Bogari A, Alabduljabbar Z, AlDosari B. Complication rates from otoplasty at a tertiary facial plastic surgery center: a retrospective analysis. J Craniofac Surg 2022; 33 (06) 1813-1815
6 Boroditsky ML, Van Slyke AC, Arneja JS. Outcomes and complications of the Mustardé otoplasty: a “good-fast-cheap” technique for the prominent ear deformity. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2020; 8 (09) e3103
7 Jones ES, Gibson JAG, Dobbs TD, Whitaker IS. The psychological, social and educational impact of prominent ears: a systematic review. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2020; 73 (12) 2111-2120
8 Lin Y, Ronde EM, Butt HA, van Etten-Jamaludin FS, Breugem CC. Objective evaluation of nonsurgical treatment of prominent ears: a systematic review. JPRAS Open 2023; 38: 14-24
9 Dieffenbach JF. Die operative chirurgie. Leipzig (Germany): F.A. Brockhaus; 1845
10 Ely ET. A classic reprint: an operation for prominence of the auricles (with two wood-cuts). By Edward T. Ely. 1881. Aesthetic Plast Surg 1987; 11 (02) 73-74
11 Becker OJ. Correction of the protruding deformed ear. Br J Plast Surg 1952; 5 (03) 187-196
12 Gibson T, Davis WB. The distortion of autogenous cartilage grafts: its cause and prevention. Br J Plast Surg 1957; 10: 257
13 Stenstroem SJA. “A natural” technique for correction of congenitally prominent ears. Plast Reconstr Surg 1963; 32: 509-518
14 Mustarde JC. The correction of prominent ears using simple mattress sutures. Br J Plast Surg 1963; 16: 170-178
15 Furnas DW. Correction of prominent ears by conchamastoid sutures. Plast Reconstr Surg 1968; 42 (03) 189-193
16 Mustardé JC. The treatment of prominent ears by buried mattress sutures: a ten-year survey. Plast Reconstr Surg 1967; 39 (04) 382-386
17 Fritsch MH. Incisionless otoplasty. Laryngoscope 1995; 105 (5 Pt 3, Suppl 70): 1-11
18 Fritsch MH. Incisionless otoplasty. Facial Plast Surg 2004; 20 (04) 267-270
19 Fritsch MH. Incisionless otoplasty. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2009; 42 (06) 1199-1208
20 Mehta S, Gantous A. Incisionless otoplasty: a reliable and replicable technique for the correction of prominauris. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2014; 16 (06) 414-418
21 Strychowsky JE, Moitri M, Gupta MK, Sommer DD. Incisionless otoplasty: a retrospective review and outcomes analysis. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2013; 77 (07) 1123-1127
22 Byrd HS, Langevin CJ, Ghidoni LA. Ear molding in newborn infants with auricular deformities. Plast Reconstr Surg 2010; 126 (04) 1191-1200
23 Kurozumi N, Ono S, Ishida H. Non-surgical correction of a congenital lop ear deformity by splinting with Reston foam. Br J Plast Surg 1982; 35 (02) 181-182
24 Muraoka M, Nakai Y, Ohashi Y, Sasaki T, Maruoka K, Furukawa M. Tape attachment therapy for correction of congenital malformations of the auricle: clinical and experimental studies. Laryngoscope 1985; 95 (02) 167-176
25 Matsuo K, Hayashi R, Kiyono M, Hirose T, Netsu Y. Nonsurgical correction of congenital auricular deformities. Clin Plast Surg 1990; 17 (02) 383-395
26 Limandjaja GC, Breugem CC, Mink van der Molen AB, Kon M. Complications of otoplasty: a literature review. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2009; 62 (01) 19-27
27 Handler EB, Song T, Shih C. Complications of otoplasty. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2013; 21 (04) 653-662
28 Naumann A. Otoplasty - techniques, characteristics and risks. GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007; 6: Doc04
29 Staindl O. [Failures and complications following otoplasty]. . [in German] Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg) 1986; 65 (11) 646-651
30 Heppt W, Trautmann Y. [Otoplastic techniques for the correction of protruding ears]. . [in German] HNO 1999; 47 (08) 688-694
31 Elliott Jr RA. Complications in the treatment of prominent ears. Clin Plast Surg 1978; 5 (03) 479-490
32 Haytoglu S, Haytoglu TG, Yildirim I, Arikan OK. A modification of incisionless otoplasty for correcting the prominent ear deformity. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2015; 272 (11) 3425-3430
33 Weerda H. Surgery of the auricle: tumors-trauma-defects abnormalities, 1st ed. Thieme,; Stuttgart; 2007. : pp. 153-154