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- What type of dressing will I have after my surgery?
After your otoplasty the doctor will probably wrap your head in a special type of bandage.
It is common to mold the new ear cartilage with cotton balls soaked in saline. These dry and harden and help to shape the cartilage. At the same time they apply pressure to the skin and push it against the cartilage. This helps to prevent serum or blood collecting in the space below the skin. Bleeding into this layer can cause increased fibrosis and scarring which results in a cauliflower ear.
The whole ear will then be wrapped with a bandage which keeps it in position and avoids the ear being pulled away from the head and damaging the result.
The bandage should not be removed unless you have directions to do so. Your doctor may allow you to take a bath but do not get the bandage wet. You cannot wash your hair. If you need to change your bandage your doctor or one of the nurses will give you instructions.
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