Otoplasty – Ear correction surgery

Ear correction surgery is one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic and corrective surgery.

Protruding ears are the most common of a number of congenital abnormalities of the outer ear. The condition is purely aesthetic, and has no functional disadvantage for hearing.

It is noticeable immediately after birth and can lead to significant insecurities later on in life, especially during puberty.

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Ear correction surgery performed before enrolling a child in school can spare them the emotional trauma of being made fun of and teased by other children, which can seriously harm their self-esteem.

During the first few months of life, while the cartilage is still soft and malleable, it is possible to correct the shape of the ear through bandaging and taping to a certain degree. Later on, as the ear fully develops, ear correction surgery is needed to pin back and reduce the size of the ear.

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About the procedure

The procedure uses a general anaesthetic for children, whereas adults are operated on under local anaesthesia. It involves modelling of the cartilage and pinning back the ear against the head.

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Candidates

This procedure is most commonly performed on children, as well as young adults, but adults of any age struggling with protruding or misshapen ears can benefit from this surgery. Ears are almost fully grown and developed by age 4, after which it is possible to correct their shape with surgery.