Spare your child the shame and humiliation of being called “Dumbo Ears” throughout grade school by getting him or ear an ear pinning operation - while they’re still young.
Quick and almost always 100 percent successful, an otoplasty, as it’s called in the medical world, can transform your large-eared offspring into a child with normal-sized ears within just a few hours. Of course, they could always find alternative work in the circus…
Otoplasty for Everyone
Human ears reach their full size usually by the time we turn four. Some of us have ears that appear a bit large for our heads, but thankfully everything seems to be in proportion by the time our heads catch up with them. Others, however, have ears that appear enormous, even in comparison with an adult-sized head. And others have ears that might not be huge, but stick out at odd angles – or just too darn much.
Whatever the case, if you are unhappy with the size or shape of your ears, or your children’s ears, it might be time to do something about it. Otoplasty, sometimes known as pinnaplasty, is a general medical term by which you change the appearance of your ears through surgery. For some people it’s a godsend, reshaping not only the things sticking out on either side of their head, but also their self-esteem and the way they feel about themselves in general.
Otoplasty can surface in myriad ways. It can take the shape of ear pinning, when ears considered overly prominent are moved closer to the side of the head, or the ears can be made smaller or their cartilage re-shaped. In some cases otoplasty is performed following an accident or injury, or when the ears are distorted from birth and need to be reshaped.
The surgery is fairly simple, with a general anesthetic necessary for children only (lucky adults get both a local and a sedative) and no overnight hospital stay necessary for adults or teens. Be aware that infants under six months of age can often forgo surgery, instead making use of specially crafted molds that flatten out the ears.
Ins and Outs of Ear Surgery
Having otoplasty is painful but the results speak for themselves (oh, if our ears could talk, how much they would say!). This operation takes about two hours, and is relatively straightforward. Let’s run you through the basics…
- Your surgeon makes tiny incisions behind the ears to access the cartilage, which he or she will then reshape.
- Cartilage from the ear may then be folded back or, in some cases, a bit removed, while excess skin is taken away or excised. This is called cartilage shoring and cartilage sparing.
- Plastic non-removable stitches are then put in to place the ears in a different position.
- A bandage is wrapped around the head to keep the ears in place while healing progresses.
- It might be necessary to wear the bandage or a similar type of headband for several weeks to ensure your ears are not jarred out of place. You also will must rest and sleep on your back for at least seven days and pay careful attention to aural hygiene, not rubbing too hard.
- If you need otoplasty to correct a deformed ear, such as a cauliflower ear, your surgeon will use the above-mentioned techniques combined with other reconstructive methods to create as realistic an ear as possible.
- Bilateral otoplasty is exactly what the name suggests: correction of one ear only.
- Ear and earlobe reduction surgery are also options.
Side Effects of Otoplasty
Side effects are minimal, although some people say the pain can be a killer – this, of course, depends in part upin your own pain threshold. Other side-effects include:
- Aching and itching after surgery – partly due to the sutures.
- Numbness. This can drag on for quite a while, but is normal. The affected nerves tend to regenerate, so this can last anywhere from a few days to a few months – occasionally more.
- Infections from the stitches. Minimize the risk of this happening, especially with children, by keeping an eye on their temperature, and administering antibiotics at the first sign of a fever.
- Occasionally the ears may relax after the surgery has been performed (!) and you will need additional surgery to make them uptight again.
Risks of otoplasty are minimal. They include asymmetrical ears, the appearance of red, rough and/or raised keloid scars, a loss of ear skin. You could also suffer a hematoma, or collection of blood underneath the skin, as well as infection. Sometimes additional operations are needed.
Otoplasty costs anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000, and may seem an extraordinary amount to pay for a procedure that is purely cosmetic in nature. But many young people will be covered by insurance, and many parents will feel it’s a small price to pay to ensure that their little loved ones do not become the focal point of playground taunts in future (aren’t parents wonderful?).
However, there are alternatives to otoplasty, including: wearing a large headband or hat to cover your ears, growing your hair long and shaggy, having surgery on the rest of your face to make it bigger, and learning to accept yourself as you were born - and your kids. Good luck!
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate medical professional.
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