Otoplasty

The American Board of Medical Specialties is the centralized entity that maintains a record of ALL physicians’ REAL board certification. The credentials of your chosen physician may be verified accurately and without misleading titles on their website.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) IS THE ONLY BOARD specialty recognized by the American Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This is the regulatory body overseeing resident education in ALL medical specialties including internal medicine, general surgery, etc. Any board which is not recognized by this entity is not subjected to its rules and regulations. The ACGME therefore does not recognize anyone trained in any program recognized by such an ARBITRARILY defined board. The truth of the matter is that if anyone wanted to set up the American Board of Facial Upper Outer Eyelid Lash Surgeons, they could do so without any problems, without even so much as a medical degree. To the general public it would seem as though anyone trained in a “program” recognized by such a “board” has special training in the upper out part of the eyelid, and the upper outer eyelid surgeon would bask and revel in the fruits of this flagrant lie. The truth is that ACGME plastic surgery training takes from 6 to 8 years and encompasses all of plastic surgery, in its every detail. Surgeons not trained in such a manner typically have one year of so called “plastic” surgery and think themselves expert. Because they claim to be specialists in a particular area, an implication is made that they underwent plastic surgery training followed by specialty training. This is another blatant lie. Of course the public is unaware of any of this because the industry is only regulated on the postoperative lawsuit end. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few cosmetic surgeons, who are not plastic surgeons, who are quite good; there are exceptions to every rule. There is also a fair amount of ASPS surgeons who are quite bad, again not the rule. But to say that one NEEDS a surgeon who has this board certification not recognized by the ACGME is a preposterous flagrant lie. Another important consideration that is often ignored is the ethical character of the “surgeon.” Let’s suppose someone is not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, let’s also suppose that they are really good with their hands, and have done many, many aesthetic procedures. How many people would have had to be their “first,” in any given procedure before they accumulated enough experience to obtain good, reproducible results. Would you really want a “physician” of such limited moral fiber to do your surgery? The bottom line is this; what you need is an honest physician, who is safe, gets good results, and is strongly endorsed by his or her patients, not the founder of the American Board of the Middle Upper Lip Cosmetico – Aesthetic Surgery.

In the great majority of cases, over 90%, Dr. Gerzenshtein places the incisions over the posterior (backside) aspect of the ear(s). In cases requiring more than routine ear-reshaping, limited anterior (front) ear incisions are used.

Scars are not particular to the otoplasty procedure, but their prominence, or asymmetry if present, may be disturbing. Because the incision is placed behind the ear(s), even if the scar(s) become prominent, one would have to look behind the ear(s) to note them. Most of the time, however, the scars heal very well, and are not detectable even on reflecting the ear to the front.

Typically, one full week of recovery is needed prior to resumption of academic or work activities. All otoplasty patients recover at their own pace after ear reshaping, there are some general trends. The initial pain subsides over the course of two to three day. Swelling and discoloration may worsen after an ear pinning over the course of the same several days. It is a good idea to have someone at home to assist the patient in the immediate postoperative period. Strong pain medication will be needed in the first one week after otoplasty. Thereafter, normal, non-strenuous activities and work or school may be resumed. Swelling and bruising may persist for up to two months after ear-pinning and ear reshaping surgery. Heavy exertion, and any activity, or contact sport that may result in injury should be avoided for first two post-operative months, as should sun exposure.

Non-strenuous exercise may be restarted after one week. Rigorous exercise may be resumed within four weeks after otoplasty. Contact sports, or sports where contact is likely should be avoided for at least 6 weeks to prevent dehiscence or disruption of otoplasty suture.