Less Common Procedures: What Role Can Plastic Surgery Play in Genetics?
Recently, I began to consider the less common, or at least less “well known” procedures that we perform as plastic surgeons due to genetic predispositions and thought it would be a good topic to discuss this month.
Typically, whenever cosmetic surgical procedures are mentioned the usual suspects come to mind: breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, facelift, and so on. However there are several procedures that don’t get as much press as other cosmetic surgery enhancements because they are specifically done to correct genetic flaws or defects. Otoplasty or “ear pinning” and very targeted liposuction (on the knees, for example) came to mind.
What is Otoplasty? Commonly called, “ear pinning”, it is a prominent ear treatment that takes the ear(s) that stick out noticeably and folds it back against the scalp to make it have a more normal contour and less prominent appearance.
This procedure is usually done just after the ears have had their major growth at age 6 or 7 years of age, however many adults decide to do “ear pinnings” later in life and the recovery is similar.
Otoplasty is a brief day surgery procedure that takes approximately 45 minutes on each ear. Patients usually are able to shampoo and shower and remove the dressings within 24 hours.
What is Knee Lipo? Liposuction of the knees is often done with liposuction of other areas but can be done as an isolated procedure as some patients have genetically prominent fat pads along the inner knees and suction above and below the knee may be necessary to make the areas look even.
This is usually a very successful and simple procedure to recover from. Compression garments are usually utilized for 2-3 weeks after treatment but patients can shower and be active within 24 hours. The incisions are small and usually hidden in the crease of the knee and the results are permanent as far as reducing the irregular contour bulge at the knees.
If you’d like to learn more about less common procedures for a future blog topic, please let me know in the comments section, or feel free to call my office if you’d like a consultation. 214-390-0011 Or visit our website at https://drchoucair.com
