Having misshapen or protruding ears can detract from your other nice features and make you feel self conscious about your appearance. Otoplasty, also known as ear surgery is a cosmetic procedure that improves the shape of the ears and gives them a more natural looking appearance. The surgery doesn’t affect the interior of the ear so it won’t have any impact on your hearing.
If you’re considering otoplasty for yourself or for one of your children, keep reading to learn more.
Who should consider otoplasty?
Otoplasty can help both children and adults achieve a more normal, pleasing appearance. Children, in particular, can be subject to teasing and bullying at school if they have an abnormal feature. Being bullied at school can cause children to lose confidence and make it harder for them to focus and perform well academically. For this reason, parents often choose to have otoplasty performed on children before the children enter elementary school. This can help children feel more confident at school and reduce the chances of bullying. Reshaping the ear while children are you is also advantageous because cartilage is easier to shape when people are younger.
Otoplasty can also be performed on adults for a variety of reasons. Patients may consider otoplasty if they:
• Have ears that protrude far from the head
• Are concerned that their ears are abnormally large
• Notice that one ear is higher than the other
• Have cartilage that gets misshapen while the ear is growing
• Sustain damage to the ears due to an accident or injury
What should you expect from the procedure?
The technique used to perform ear surgery will vary from patient to patient depending on specific needs, but in general, there are two commonly used techniques.
The first technique involves making an incision at the back of the ear and folding and stitching the cartilage. The second technique also involves making an incision at the back of the ear, but cartilage is cut out and reshaped differently. Because the incision is always made behind the ear, any scar will be inconspicuous.
If you’d like to learn more about otoplasty and other procedures that can help you and your children, schedule a consultation at The Cleft & Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center.