Many people have protruding, highly asymmetric or large ears, usually already from birth. In children and adolescents protruding ears is often a reason for teasing that the psychological development of the child may be affected.
Understanding the Surgery
The ear surgery can frequently be performed in children up to the age of 5. The surgery is nearly always an outpatient procedure and performed depending on the age of the child with general anesthesia or to elderly patients with local anesthesia. Of course, an ear correction is also regularly carried out in adults.
In most of the protruding ears the ear fold (antihelix in the literature) is either weakly developed or absent. Surgery begins with an incision just behind the ear, in the natural fold where the ear is joined to the head and the surgery is generally carried out by removing excess cartilage of the auricle. With a few centimeters long incision behind the ear cartilage, the desired shape will be acquired and the surgeon will then pin the cartilage with a few fine U- sutures. Thereafter, the skin is closed with a continuous suture.
In other instances, the surgeon will not remove any cartilage at all, using stitches to hold the cartilage permanently in place. After sculpting the cartilage to the desired shape, the surgeon will apply sutures to anchor the ear until healing occurs to hold the ear in the desired position.
Earfold® with a small implant is another technique that is designed to reposition prominent ears. It works because the implant is curved, so after it is inserted into patient’s ear under local anaesthetic, it springs into shape, helping to correct the ear prominence by creating or enhancing what’s known as the antihelical fold.
Post-surgical recovery
Dissolvable stitches that poke through the skin may fall off themselves, if not they can be removed 7-10 days later. A circular head bandage should be worn after surgery for 3-7 days. Swelling and bruising reduce in 1-2 weeks. About temporary bruising are sometimes reported and only rare reports of inflammation. Both can usually be treated with antibiotics.
We would be happy if we can give you a first overview. This page is for informational purposes only. Our consultants will be happy to provide you further information. Your satisfaction is our most important concern.
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Bosphorus Aesthetics