Pain control
Give paracetamol as required for pain and throbbing (available
from pharmacies without prescription). Do not give aspirin. Local
anaesthetic is injected into the area at the time of surgery; this
should wear off within 24 hours and an increase in pain may occur
when the local anaesthetic ceases to have effect.
Dressings
The head dressings will be removed at your review appointment.
Keep the dressings clean, dry and intact until this time. If the
outer bandage becomes loose it can be unwrapped and wound on more
tightly with additional tape. Do not remove the inner bandage.
Activities
Encourage quiet activities at home to prevent trauma to ears.
Children can go back to school after seven days but must be careful
in playground activity. Do not scratch the ears or insert any
objects under the dressings as this may cause damage. Avoid any
activity in which the ear might be bent for approximately a month.
Strenuous activity and contact sports may be resumed after 4-8
weeks.
What to expect
Swelling and bruising of the ears may persist for two weeks.
Some tenderness may persist for up to three months. There will be a
scar behind the ears that should fade over time. Every effort is
made to minimise the scarring and achieve the best cosmetic result
for your child. You will be given instructions at your review
appointment on what to do to prevent poor healing and bad scarring.
This may include the use of tapes or massage with sorbolene cream
or aloe vera. Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months
and always use a strong sunscreen if sun exposure is
unavoidable.
Do not expect both ears to match perfectly as perfect symmetry
is unlikely and unnatural in ears. Sutures will dissolve
within two weeks; any non-absorbable sutures will be removed
at your review appointment. Rarely, the sutures break down before
the ear is permanently fixed in position; this can cause the ear to
return to its original position. If this occurs, re-operation
is required to fix the ear.
Medical attention
Seek medical attention if your child has:
- Increasing pain or pain not relieved by medication
- Persistent fever
- General unwellness
- Wound discharge or increasing redness
- Fresh bleeding from the ears
Follow-up
Your follow-up appointment will be at one of the following:
- Plastic Surgery Outpatients (Registrar Clinic), Blue Desk,
Ground Floor, The Royal Children's Hospital (morning appointment)
- Consultant Clinic
- Consultant Private Rooms
- Local doctor
If you are unable to keep your appointment please call to
reschedule.
Contact
Plastic & Maxillofacial Surgery Office - 9345 5391
Outpatient appointments - 9345 6180
Plastic Surgery Resident or Registrar - via switchboard on 9345
5522
Developed by The Royal Children's Hospital Speech Pathology and Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery departments. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed November 2015.
Kids Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.