Having prominent ears can be a psychological nightmare for some people, especially school age children. While prominent ears are a natural variant, sometime they can be referred to as dumbo ears after Disney’s animated elephant. This can lead to a stigma which can be difficult for children to overcome. Fortunately, there are several options for people with prominent ears to help correct them.

To determine what procedure is appropriate to help patients with prominent ears, it is first necessary to determine if the patient has excess ear cartilage or if the ear is not formed completely. The most common problem with prominent ears is a lack of the antihelical fold. This causes the outside edge of the ear to be unfolded and stick out farther from the head than it should. In other cases, there is more cartilage in the conchal bowl pushing the ear farther from the head than it should ideally be.

Ear pinning, or more technically termed otoplasty procedures, are cosmetic surgery procedures which reshape the external appearance of the ear. If a patient lacks an antihelical fold, the fold has to be reshaped using permanent sutures. For those with excess cartilage in the conchal bowl, the excess cartilage needs to be removed and the ear pulled in slightly towards the head. In some patients with a lack of antihelical fold in whom the problem is noticed just after birth, special molds can be used to reshape the ear and often avoid the need for surgery in the future.

Risks are associated with any procedure. For otoplasty surgery, risks include infection, bleeding, and cartilage death which can require reconstructive surgery. If permanent stitches are used to reshape the ear, there is the possibility that these sutures can break at some point in time and need to be replaced.

The journey toward success with otoplasty surgery depends on visiting a qualified and experienced surgeon who can determine your specific risks and rewards of surgery. Analysis is the first step and a good surgeon can help you to determine if your goals are attainable.

Dr. Verret is a facial plastic surgeon in the north Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas. For more information about ear pinning,cosmetic surgery video, or other facial plastic surgery procedures, visit his web site or call for a consultation 972.608.0100.

Tags: cosmetic surgery, ear pinning, ear shaping, facial plastic surgery, health, otoplasty, Plastic Surgery