The Otoplasty Procedure

Protruding ears are one of the most noticeable deformities on any person, especially children. Because the ears reach their full size by the age of 5 or 6, children are the ones who suffer most as a result of this. This is why ear pinning, known by its proper name of Otoplasty, is most commonly performed on children between the ages of 5 and 14. If you are considering Otoplasty but you're not sure what is involved, this article will explain what you can expect.

Babies are often born with large ears which they grow into. It's seen as just a normal developmental stage. But in some cases, large or protruding ears can also be a sign of a chromosomal abnormality which the doctor will need to test for. In conjunction with other physical problems, it can also be an indicator of disorders such as Down's Syndrome. Most commonly though large ears are merely a genetic trait passed down through the generations.

In adults, protruding ears can be caused by trauma to the area, such as damage to the cartilage. Disorders such as Bell's palsy can also contribute to protruding or floppy ears because of the loss of nerve function in the area. Even the simple aging process causes some people's ears to become more noticeable.

Because our bodies never stop producing cartilage, which is a stiff and inflexible connective tissue, the growth of the nose and the ears never stops. However, the ear's growth rate is normally reduced to such a small amount that size doesn't seem to change. Between the ages of 5 - 50, we don't notice any difference in our ear size at all. However, with people in their 60's, sometimes their features become more noticeable, especially if your ears were always on the larger side.

Otoplasty is any procedure to regularise the appearance of the ears. This procedure can be to 'pin back' protruding ears closer to the head, but also to reshape the ears, reducing their size or making them more symmetrical. In adults, Otoplasty is often performed with other reconstructive facial surgery. The protruding is often caused by an undeveloped middle fold in the ear and the procedure is designed to correct that.

Otoplasty is usually performed under local anaesthetic for adults and general anaesthetic for children. A more complex resizing and remodelling procedure can last anywhere between one and two hours for each ear, depending on the size and severity of deformity and the results the patient is after. The surgeon makes an incision behind the ear in the small fold where the ear is joined to the head. Then the necessary amounts of cartilage and skin will be removed to get the right result.

There are two main surgical Otoplasty procedures: -The cartilage is trimmed into a more aesthetic form, then sutures (stitches) are placed to hold the ear in its new position. These sutures are permanent. -The surgeon doesn't remove any cartilage, favouring only sutures placed behind the ear to hold the existing cartilage in place. Again, the suturing is permanent. This Otoplasty procedure is commonly referred to as 'ear pinning'.

To decide which is best procedure for you or your child, you will need to talk to your doctor, who will refer you to a surgeon who specialises in Otoplasty.