Though our appearance in general should never be the most important thing, it is an inescapable fact that in most societies, we seek a “normal” appearance for us and for our children. While the prominence of our ears is certainly subjective, most people agree on what they consider to be excessive or abnormal projection. Since even mild excess projection can have a significant impact on a person’s self-image and self-esteem, patients of all ages visit our office for the cosmetic repositioning of their ears. Otoplasty is a surgical method of reducing ear projection, which creates a more aesthetically pleasing self-image for the patient and can boost the patient’s confidence in both their personal and professional lives.

While the correction of prominent ears can be performed on both adults and children, results are generally more predictable for children because their cartilage is softer and more compliant during surgery. For our young patients, the decision to proceed with ear surgery is often based on input parents relay from their children and teacher observations, as children with extremely prominent ears may become the subject of peer ridicule. Prominent ears are a very common reason for peer ridicule, and if this condition is a significant source of concern for the child, otoplasty can successfully “normalize” a child’s appearance. Even our adult otoplasty patients consider excessive ear projection a condition that they tolerated or overlooked in childhood that they have now decided to correct.

In the following weeks, our plastic surgeons will provide more information about otoplasty in the second installment of this two-part blog series. Check our blog soon for information on the unique complexities of the ear and surgical techniques to minimize scarring.

To learn more, please contact our office today.