Protruding ears are a common congenital deformity in which the ears lack the usual folds in the cartilage. The cup of the ear may be rotated forward. The cartilages may be thin and floppy or thick and hard.
Otoplasty surgery creates the usual folds in the cartilage and rotates the cup of the ear from an outward position towards the side of the head. Skin is removed from behind the ear.
Otoplasty surgery is the one cosmetic surgery most often performed in the childhood years. Surgery is commonly performed in the summer months to prevent criticism from school peers.
The size of six-year-old ears is about 80% the size of adult ears. Therefore surgery during grade school years does not prevent the ears from developing to a normal size.
Otoplasty surgery is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient surgery. Recovery requires 1-2 weeks leave of absence from social life.
Please call the office to discuss approximate costs of surgery.