Author Topic: Ear folding back after surgery?  (Read 4187 times)

notnowkato

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 11
Ear folding back after surgery?
« on: December 09, 2009, 11:51:54 pm »
Hi, I'll be having translab surgery in the new year (still waiting on a date). The surgeon mentioned in passing that afterwards my ear would probably fold backwards towards my head over time as the fat they used to pack the hole was absorbed. Was the first time I'd heard of that so I wondered if anyone who'd had surgery had experienced this and was curious how far it folds in?
Thanks, Kate

Nickittynic

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 213
    • Bug in the Brain Blog
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2009, 09:28:05 am »
I didn't have translab so my experience may not be that helpful, but in my retrosigmoid I'm guessing they had my ear taped forward for the surgery, because even though it laid laid as flat as normal when I woke up, it was tender and itchy for weeks!
25 year old OBGYN nurse, wife, mother of two
5.5cm x 3.1cm left side AN removed via retrosigmoid 9/09 @ Hopkins
SSD, Tinnitus, Chronic Migraines, Facial paralysis (improving!)
Resolved - Left sided weakness, Cognitive issues
Gold weight, upper and lower punctal plugs, tarsorrhaphy

nancyann

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2251
  • carpe diem
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2009, 02:11:53 pm »
Hi there:  I also had Retrosigmoid approach, but my AN ear sticks out ! - hence, I grew my hair a little longer to cover the 'elephant' ear.  I was contemplating having the ear pinned back, but the longer hair does the trick.   Geuss I'm saying I'd rather have it fold back than stick out !
Always good thoughts,  Nancy
2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

notnowkato

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 11
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2009, 06:31:42 pm »
Thanks - I know it was a fairly frivolous question in the scheme of things but I was just curious. Sounds like I'll just have to wait & see which way mine goes then!


Pooter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1291
  • The Official Breeze Conjurer - PBW
    • Blog Website
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2009, 06:50:33 pm »
The way I "read" the comments of your surgeon is that your ear will likely "droop", "sag" or otherwise "stick out" immediately after surgery but as the fat they used in closing is aborbed and/or hardens, it will fold back to a more "normal" state.  I know mine drooped for awhile after my retro surgery, but now it's pretty normal.

Regards,
Brian
Diagnosed 4/10/08 - 3cm Right AN
12hr retrosig 5/8/08 w/Drs Vrabec and Trask in Houston, Tx
Some facial paralysis post-op but most movement is back, some tinitus.  SSD on right.
Story documented here:  http://briansbrainbooger.blogspot.com/

"I must be having fun all wrong!"  - Roger Creager

mellowrama

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 172
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2010, 11:04:22 pm »
yes, that happened with me...but I would describe it as my ear stuck out more and receded after swelling.  Wasn't a big deal, but the glasses did fit differently and I hadn't anticiated it.
Six months after surgery now and just got fitted for glasses, the ear is slightly off but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
best, melinda
22mm x 19mm x 12mm CyberKnife  9/25/2006 BNI Dr. Daspit/Dr. Smith/Dr. Brachman
Failed radiation - regrowth to 2.6cm 
Translab Surgery w/ House Docs 8/26/2009 Dr. Friedman, Dr. Schwartz, SSD, tinnitus. 
Baha surgery with Dr. Baker in OKC nov 2009
Baha revision surgery by Dr. Horn in ABQ 8/2011

moe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1697
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2010, 10:00:04 am »
Hi Kate,
I had translab  3.75 years ago (okay almost 4), and have not noticed anything unusual, other than the top of my earlobe wiggles and is not as strong as the other ear.I did let my hair grow out after surgery because of my BAHA, so my ear is covered up anyway, but NO noticeable difference.
Everyone is different. Hard to generalize what the ear is gonna do!
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

NancyMc

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 857
  • One year and all is well, almost.
Re: Ear folding back after surgery?
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2010, 12:42:15 pm »
I'm eleven months post-op.  Everything was fine until about two months ago, I think.  There was a thread about having a dent where the fat has shrunken in which I at first couldn't find the dent but then did when I felt in the right place.  Mine makes it a two-handed chore to put on glasses or put my hair behind my ear.  Otherwise, no big deal.  The weird thing is that since it is numb around my ear, I often put on my glasses and am unaware that they didn't go behind my ear but rather are sitting on top of it.
Watch and Wait since 9/19/01
Increased from 1.1 x 1.9 to 1.9 x 1.9 cm as of 10/27/08
Right SSD, tinnitus, compensating balance
Dr. McKenna at Mass Eye and Ear and Dr. Barker at MGH
Translab April 8, 9 hours, 18 mm Tumor all gone SSD some facial weakness