Some children are born with prominent ears and often face ridicule when they begin school. Ear surgery, or otoplasty, can help to correct concerns such as large, uneven, and protruding ears, ear deformities, as well as torn or ripped ear lobes. While a majority of our patients are children, we also perform ear surgery for Ann Arbor and Jackson, Michigan women and men who have always been bothered by their ears, but were not able to take corrective action until later in life.
Benefits
Our patients in Michigan report how ear surgery has improved their self-confidence and self-esteem. In addition, otoplasty makes the ears lie flat against the patient’s head, which gives the ears a normal appearance.
Insider Tips
- This procedure is common among young children around 7 and 8 years old.
- Many patients prefer their ears after surgery to be a bit closer to their head than is found in most people.
- Dr. Malhotra uses a cartilage excision technique so that the patient’s ears are much less likely to spring back with time or pulling.
- Some children in the first few days of life can have their ears molded while their cartilage is very soft. Unfortunately, this is offered at very few centers in the nation.
- Avoiding trauma or pulling of the ears is important for 6 weeks after surgery.
Candidates
In general, a large portion of our Ann Arbor and Jackson, Michigan, otoplasty patients are children. However, we do perform ear surgery for adults as well. The sooner a child can get ear surgery, the more likely they will avoid the teasing and taunting that normally comes with large, protruding ears.
General Procedure
The incisions are hidden behind the ear in the natural skin crease. Prominent cartilage is then removed, allowing the ear to sit closer to the scalp. Shaping sutures are then placed to recreate the curves and rolls found on typical ears. This portion of the procedure is a delicate balance between shaping the ear and providing enough strength to give a long lasting result.
Recovery Process
Patients will wear a headwrap which is removed after 1 day. A headband or sweatband is then worn to protect the ears. Full physical activity for non-contact sports can resume after 2 weeks if there is no risk of trauma to the ear.
Related Procedures: Rhinoplasty, Facelift, Blepharoplasty
