Do Your Ears Make You Feel Self-Conscious?

Congenitally prominent ears are a cosmetic deformity that can have a severe emotional and behavioral effect on a child. When a child’s ear protrudes too far from the side of the scalp, a surgical procedure known as an otoplasty can be performed to enhance the position and appearance of the external ear.

Five percent of children are affected by prominent ear protrusion. The majority of children genetically inherit the appearance from their parents. Prominent ears can present in a myriad of forms including cup ear, shell ear, bat ear, Machiavellian ear, and lop ear.

Most commonly children and adults will often camouflage the deformity with hairstyling. Timing of repair can be crucial in avoiding psychological damage. The ear achieves 85% of adult size by age 3 years and nearly adult size by 6 or 7 years of age.

As an individual ages, elongation of the lobule (lobe) gives the appearance of continued ear growth. The most common deformity in prominent ears is an underdeveloped or poorly defined antihelix. This is the part of the ear fold that lies inside the outer rim of the ear.

The otoplasty surgery is performed through a concealed incision along the back of the ear. Correction of protruding ears uses surgical techniques to create or increase the antihelical fold (just inside the rim of the ear) and to reduce enlarged conchal cartilage (the largest and deepest concavity of the external ear). The cartilage of the ear is reshaped by different suturing techniques. The excess cartilage can be excised and the ear repositioned closer to the side of the head.

The procedure usually takes 60 to 90 minutes to perform. It is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia under the direct supervision of a board-certified anesthesiologist. The patient can resume their normal activities within three to five days wearing a soft headband for one to two weeks to protect the ears. Ear surgery, otoplasty, offers almost immediate results in cases of protruding ears visible when the dressings that support the new shape of the ear during the initial phases of healing are removed. Children and adults who are concerned about the appearance of their ears can experience both the cosmetic as well as the emotional improvement of otoplasty surgery.

DO YOUR EARS MAKE YOU FEEL Self-Conscious? By Charles A. Messa, III, M.D., F.A.C.S.

⊲ Dr. Messa is board certified by both the

American Board of Plastic Surgery and the

American Board of Surgery, an active member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic

Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a recognized expert in cosmetic plastic surgery and has achieved

Allergan’s Black Diamond Award as one of the top 1% of plastic surgery practices in the country by volume. Dr. Messa has also achieved

Chairman status with Medicis and Mentor

Corporation. This award honors distinguished leaders in cosmetic surgery for demonstrating expertise and excellence through a high volume of aesthetic product procedures. The certification is awarded to leaders in the field of medical aesthetics and demonstrates their commitment to innovation, excellence, and the highest level of patient care.

To schedule your consultation with Dr. Messa, please call our office at (954) 659-7760.

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