Otoplasty: Is Your Child a Candidate for Prominent Ear Surgery?

Prominent ears are a cosmetic deformity that can have a serious emotional and behavioral effect on a child. Kids can sometimes be cruel, and children with protruding ears are easy targets from intentional teasing by peers and sometimes even from adults! 

The ear reaches 90% of its adult size by 5 years of age and is usually fully grown by 7 years of age. Prominent ears typically do not affect a child's self-image until the child is 5 years of age. Therefore, the best time to perform the corrective surgery for prominent ears is before the child starts school.

Surgical technique used to correct protruding ears is called otoplasty. Numerous otoplasty techniques are used to correct different types of ear deformities. Generally, the cartilage excess is removed, cartilage is remodeled, and sutures stabilizing the ear closer to the temple are placed. In adults and teenagers, otoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, but in smaller children general anesthesia is used. The procedure lasts approximately 1-2 hours. The skin incision is made behind the ear, so the scar is out of view. This scar will fade over time and will become barely noticeable.

Following surgery, the child may be discharged on the same day. The head is wrapped in an elastic bandage. It is normal for kids to experience some soreness or swelling, but any post-operative discomfort can be easily managed through simple medications. Following otoplasty, kids can return to school or kindergarten in approximately one week.

Otoplasty is the only purely cosmetic procedure that is performed on children. It is very rewarding because it makes a difference in the life of a child, while satisfaction rate for this surgery is among the highest of all cosmetic procedures! 

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