SURGERIES OF THE EAR

Surgeries of the ear are some of the most common surgeries we do. From scarless Ear-drum repairs to Implantable hearing Aids, we can take care of your needs. Of course many of these procedures come with Dr. Bhattacharyya’s personal tricks to take your results from good enough to perfect, because that’s the only word that works!

Find Out More

Ear Discharge

  • Scarless ear drum repair
  • Removal of cholesteatoma
  • CSF leak repair

Hearing loss

  • Implantable Hearing Aids
  • Cochlear Implants
  • Management of Otosclerosis

Tinnitus & Vertigo

  • Meniere’s Disease
  • Vibro-acoustic treatment
  • Vestibular Neurectomy

Ear Block & Pain

  • Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation
  • TMJ Botox
  • Wax Removal

Tumors

  • Glomus tumors
  • Temporal Bone resections
  • Accoustic Neuromas

Facial paralysis

  • Bell’s palsy
  • Traumatic Facial Nerve Injury
  • Other Viral Causes

EAR DISCHARGE

Additional Information

Ear discharge can originate from the outer, middle or inner ear. The causes may vary from something as simple as wax build up in the ear to a complex tumor in the ear.

When you visit us for this problem, you will likely need some form of ear cleaning before we can assess and address the underlying problem. Things like blood, foul smell or sticky glob-like discharge may be significant, and do mention them when we meet.

TIPS & HINTS

  • DO NOT put any kind of drops in the ear.
  • If you have had a prior CT scan of the head, bring the CD if it is available.
  • Bring a list of any other medications you may be on currently

HEARING LOSS

Additional Information

Hearing loss can be gradual or sudden onset.

Gradual hearing loss is most commonly a result of ageing, however anything that affects the bones or ear drum (Conductive mechanism) or the nerve of hearing(Sensory neural mechanism) can also lead to very similar symptoms. Sudden onset hearing loss is a more sinister pathology, which may result from tumors or even small localized strokes. However in upto 30% of cases, the cause may not be found even after extensive evaluation. These are called Idiopathic.

When you visit us for hearing loss, we will ask for some tests to assess the type and degree of hearing loss. If there are risks of any of the above, you may also need imaging

TIPS & HINTS

  • Do bring any old Hearing test reports if available
  • If you have had a prior CT scan of the head, bring the CD if it is available.
  • Bring a list of any other medications you may be on currently

TINNITUS & VERTIGO

Additional Information

Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ear, but it can take on many forms -whooshing, clicking, pulsating or even ticking. This is often accompanied by hearing loss,and can be extremely distressing to the sufferer, affecting sleep, leisure and sometimes work.

Vertigo is also described as giddiness or dizziness. The causes of vertigo can be myriad, and a proficient vertigo treatment plan relies more on a “team” approach than an individual doctor. You may need a series of otologic tests called the “Vertigo work up”, with or without imaging, as indicated.

Treatment for both of these conditions involve 2 major principles:

  • Make sure there isn’t something dangerous underlying
  • Effective management of the symptoms to help you return to your life as soon as possible

TIPS & HINTS

  • Do bring any old Hearing test reports if available
  • If you have had a prior CT scan of the head, bring the CD if it is available.
  • Bring a list of any other medications you may be on currently, as they can be the underlying cause in many cases
  • DO NOT DRIVE if you are coming to see us for vertigo. Your safety comes first.

EAR BLOCK AND PAIN

Additional Information

Ear pain or Otalgia can be often be as confusing for the clinician as it is for the patient. It may arise from infections, boils, tumors inside the ear, but it can also arise from the nose, throat, or even the jaw. Careful exam can help us pinpoint the underlying cause in most cases and treat them effectively.

One of the other common issues that often go hand in hand is a blocked ear or pain during flying/or when travelling to higher altitudes. These symptoms often arise from a blocked Eustachian tube which connects the back of your nose to the inside of your ears. So, dont be surprised if we want to look at your nose, to treat your ears!

TIPS & HINTS

  • DO NOT put any kind of drops in the ear or the nose
  • If you have had a prior CT scan of the head, bring the CD if it is available.
  • Bring a list of any other medications you may be on currently.

TUMORS

Additional Information

Fortunately, tumors in the ear are infrequent, but that is not to say they do not pose a risk.

Most of the tumors in this region are benign (non cancerous) and many may be manageable non-surgically. Hearing test, Imaging and other specialized exams may be required so we have the absolute maximum information about the tumor before making any decisions.

It is imperative for the treating physician to be updated with the current treatment paradigms. It is equally important, to have frank and detailed discussions so you have all the treatment options on the table before making a decision.

TIPS & HINTS

  • DO REMEMBER, asking for a second, third or fourth opinion is your right as a patient.
  • If you have had a prior CT scan/MRI of the head, bring the CD if it is available.
  • Bring a list of any other medications you may be on currently.

FACIAL NERVE DISORDERS

Additional Information

The Facial Nerve is the nerve that controls all facial expression and it passes through the bone that houses our ear cavities.

Facial Nerve weakness or paralysis is often idiopathic, and called Bell’s Palsy. It can also be caused by viral infections, tumors and strokes.

If you have recently noticed a weakness of one side of your face, it is recommended to visit a doctor at the earliest. Testing including hearing assessment, and possible imaging may be needed. Treatment started within 72 hrs of onset has significantly better outcome scores across multiple studies.

If you have had facial weakness more than 4-6 months, the focus shifts to bringing back movement to the involved side. This can involve nerve transplants, muscle or tendon transfer, or conversely, weakening the other side to produce apparent symmetry. There is no “One-size fits all” answer here, and treatment is as much of an art as science. Having trained at one of the largest facial plastic surgery programs in the USA, we believe we are uniquely capable of providing you the absolute best results.

TIPS & HINTS

  • DO bring all past reports including prior CT scan of the head with the CD if it is available.
  • Bring a list of any other medications you may be on currently.
  • Do let us know if you have Diabetes or any other peripheral neuropathy, as untreated, these can significantly worsen outcome, and we hate non-perfect results.

DR. BHATTACHARYYA'S SPECIAL SAUCE

All good surgeons can give adequate outcomes 85% of the times, however the unending passion and joy of surgery is striving for the last 15%. That means doing all surgeries under magnification to give you the finest scars possible, using surgical adjuncts to promote healing, reducing your downtime.

Dr. Bhattacharyya has trained at many of the premier institutes in India and abroad, including the famed Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Extensive use of endoscopes, tissue glues, stem cell rich substrates to promote healing, usage of nerve monitoring whenever required are all steps we take to ensure we give you the absolute best chance at great outcomes. Do discuss with us in detail about your surgery, and if you would like a complimentary surgical video, where possible.