Prominent ears, or “hanging ears”, are quite common congenital malformations in the auricular cartilage that can be corrected through otoplasty . In these cases, the cartilage is very developed in the part that connects it to the skull, which gives the impression that the ears are too far apart from the head and projected to the sides. There are also completely opposite cases, in which the deformation is due to a lack of cartilage fold in the antihelix area, which gives the appearance of an extremely extended and flat ear. In both cases, Otoplasty is the most indicated surgery.
Otoplasty is a surgical technique that allows us to correct these congenital or acquired deformities of the pinna. Children and young people who have ear deformities are often the target of unwanted attention and comments in schools and public spaces. Studies have shown that these people can have low self-esteem and that children who face the problem often develop an introverted personality. Therefore, this intervention is indicated from the age of 7, since at that time the ears are already fully developed. In this way, psychological damage can be avoided throughout the child’s growth process. Adults can also undergo Otoplasty without any type of restriction.
There are several different Otoplasty techniques for correcting protruding ears . The most common method is to make an incision behind the ears until reaching the area of cartilage that lacks curvature. The cartilage is remodeled with stitches made of non-absorbable material that bend the ear naturally, correcting the deformity. In the case of patients who also have a defect in the concha, other stitches are placed to bend this part of the cartilage backwards. This reduces the angle formed by the ear with the back of the skull. There is also earlobe surgery to reduce it and make it more harmonious or correct its distance from the face.
An important benefit of Otoplasty is the safety of the procedure. Few surgeries have so few risks and such a positive impact on patients’ lives. Otoplasty at Clínica Baptista Fernandes is performed on an outpatient basis and takes between 1 hour and a half to 2 hours to be performed, depending on the aspect to be treated. The surgery can be performed under local anesthesia in adults, but in children it needs to be performed under general anesthesia. After the surgery, a
padded bandage will be placed around your head and you will have to wear it for 24 hours. When removing it, the ears will show a redness that disappears in the following days. During the first week after surgery you will wear an elastic band during the day and night to avoid trauma. From the second week you will only use it to sleep. The sutures will be removed on the eighth day. Meanwhile, the patient will be able to wash the hair with extreme care so as not to affect the surgical wound.
