Prominent ears

More photographs on this treatment can be found here » fotos/oren.

Prominent ear correction or otoplasty

This is a congenital, genetic issue. The ratio of children versus adults is 60/40. For example when children are 4 years old, I find them too small and I suggest that we wait until they are at the age of 6 or 7. The little ears are not fully grown at the age of 4 and besides that, the cartilage is thinner and from the point of surgical/technical reasons it is more difficult. The real teasing and ridiculing doesn’t really start until they are 6 or 7. Now-a-days more adults are being seen, because plastic surgery is becoming more a common commodity.

The surgery

It is about changing the shape of the cartilage. I usually don’t remove anything. In most prominent ears a fold in the cartilage is missing. With this surgery you can create one.

An incision is made in the back of the ear parallel to the rim of the ear. The skin in front of the ear is removed from the cartilage and then an incision is made into the cartilage so that it will curl up. By indenting it the tension will be released from the ear and a normal fold will be formed.

The surgery

This can be done under a local anesthetic, but I usually administer a general anesthesia. The surgery lasts about an hour and in almost all cases both ears are done simultaneously.

After the surgery

Gauzes are applied behind the ears. You will be wearing a turban for a few days. When the turban can come off it is wise to wear a head-band: day and night for the first week and only at night the following week. This is important, because the ears can fold over on the pillow at night.

After this surgery it might take awhile before the scar tissue has settled down. Also after this operation the ears can react violently to cold. The first 1 or 2 years you will have painful ears when it is freezing and you will have to wear a bonnet or cap earlier then most people. Besides this your ears will become red faster because due to the surgery the circulation will be increased in the ears.

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