OTOPLASTY (PROMINENT EAR CORRECTION SURGERY)

Prominent ears is the deformity where the ears laterally stick out too much from the head, and even though there are other contributing factors, the most important cause is the underdeveloped ear fold, "antihelix" in medical terms.   Though usually being bilateral, it may also be unilateral.

What kind of problems may prominent ears cause?

Even though it causes no medical problems at all, this condition may lead to psychological trauma especially in childhood. Normally, at the age of 5 auricle reaches 90% of the adult size. If they are made fun of by other children during school years, psychological development of children with prominent ears may be adversely affected. Therefore, the most suitable time for the prominent ears correction surgery is the preschool period, i.e. the age of 5 or 6. However, it may also be corrected later at any age. Prominent ears cosmetic surgery is highly demanded by adults as well.

What is prominent ears surgery?

Prominent ears surgery is called Otoplasty. While the surgery may be done under general or local anaesthesia in adults, it is done only under general anaesthesia in children. If adults are to undergo this surgery, they should stop using aspirin and other anticoagulants 10 days before the surgery. There are a wide variety of surgical techniques for congenital prominent ears. Surgery is usually done by making an incision behind the ear. The cartilage is reshaped and the angle and distance between the skull base and the ear are adjusted. After the incision behind the ear is closed, light-pressure dressing is applied to the wound.

What to do after the surgery?

One day after the surgery, the dressing is opened and the ear is checked. The dressing is closed and the same procedure is repeated every other day until the end of the first week. Antibiotic ointments may be applied to the sutures behind the ear. Patients are advised to use tennis headbands as much as possible. This is to help the auricle to stay in its new position. Surgery leaves a thin scar which gets thinner and less noticeable in time. Since it is in the fold between the head and the ear, the car is difficult to notice even from behind.  Patients should avoid solarium, sunlight, and extreme heat for a month after the surgery. It takes the ear a few months to get into the final shape, but it does not cause aesthetical problems for the patients during this time.    Patients are recommended to apply moisturizing creams to the ears and behind the ears with soft movements to prevent potential excessive crusting. In order to prevent the postoperative infection, patients should take special care to regularly use the antibiotics prescribed by the physician.

What are possible postoperative complications?

Potential complications (adverse events) secondary to prominent ears correction surgery include bleeding, auricular accumulation of blood in the ear (hematoma), infections, skin loss, the deformity resulting from repositioning of the external ear too close to the head and called 'telephone ear deformity' since it resembles a handset, narrowing of the entrance of the external ear, and recurring prominent ears resulting from broken sutures. The said complications are not common. In case of recurrence, the patient may be re-operated.