Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) is one of the most preferred surgeries among cosmetic interventions. Prominent (protruding) ear surgery can also be performed for children. Let’s take a look at how the ear surgery occur in children.
Protruding ear is an ear deformity that can be found in any age range. It is also known as bat ears or dumbo ears colloquially. 1 out of 5 children has a prominent ear deformity. It can be seen even in newborn babies. While this situation improves in some of the babies due to growth, in some of them continues until childhood and adulthood.
What To Do If Newborn Babies Have Prominent Ear Deformity?
Since ear development has not been completed in newborn babies, the ear may stick far from the head. This is normal. You should not panic. Because in newborns babies this situation can be corrected by the special measures. The most important of these measures is the use of a hat or bandana for the first 4 months after the baby is born. With the effect of the hat and bandana, the ears will complete their close development towards the head, without further opening. Therefore, this innate situation can be prevented. Some babies do not have protruding ears when they are born. However, put to bed on the ear, ear folds and similar situations can cause prominent ear deformation in the ear that was normal before.
After the use of a bandana or a hat for the first 4 months, the prominent ear deformation may still continue. Again, it is a situation that should not be worried. Parents can panic in such situations. It is useful to stay calm. Grow your baby with pleasure and health. Since she/he is little, she/he will not experience a situation that will force her/him, as she/he will not be aware of the situation. However, this situation should be corrected by a surgical intervention in preschool period. Otherwise, a psychologically challenging process will start when your child’s circle of friends realizes this situation. You may read more about the effects of the prominent ear on the child’s psychology here .
When Is The Best Time For Surgery In Children?
The development of the ear structure in humans is completed at the age of 6. Prominent ear surgery should be performed as early as possible since children start school at this age. As a matter of fact, the earlier prominent ear surgery is performed, the more psychological traumas caused by the prominent ear structure can be prevented during the child’s growth process. If your child has a prominent ear structure, but you do not consider having a prominent ear surgery as a parent, you may cause the problem to continue. Children who do not have a prominent ear surgery in their childhood are both psychologically adversely affected in the past period and seek ways to solve this problem during adolescence. Since children at adolescence start to pay much attention to their appearance.
Prominent Ear Negatively Affects Child Psychology
Prominent ear can cause problems even in adults. Especially with the start of school age and the increase of socialization of children with a prominent ear, the psychology of these children can be adversely affected. In this article, we will try to answer your questions such as ‘Is prominent ear a disease?’, ‘How is a prominent ear corrected?’, ‘What are the effects of the prominent ear on the child psychology?’
Is Prominent Ear A Disease?
This situation, which is called a prominent ear among the people, is a situation that results from a distance that is larger than normal between the head and ear. Many people can ask questions if the prominent is a disease. It is worth noting that this situation is only related to the aesthetic appearance and cannot be considered in any way in the disease category. However, the prominent ear appearance may adversely affect the psychology of adults and especially of children.
The Problem Can Begin At School Age
It is known that the prominent ear appearance is not liked aesthetically in most societies around the world. Therefore, children who have a prominent ear structure at school age, where the socialization speed of children increases, may have problems. As a matter of fact, other children can make fun of children who have a prominent ear, even if it is not for poisonous purposes. This situation can negatively affect children who are psychologically vulnerable. Such an approach of children to children with a prominent ear structure can affect their psychosocial health and cause conditions such as antisocial personality disorder. This situation can affect the socialization process of the child with a prominent ear structure, the formation of his personality, his concentration towards the school and his success in the lessons. Therefore, it is beneficial to prevent this situation before reaching school age.
What Is The Operation Process Like?
One of the important topic for patients who are considering having a prominent ear surgery, is the methods of prominent ear surgery. In this part of our article, we will try to give an overview of what the prominent ear surgery is and how the surgical process progresses.
In each prominent ear surgery, an operation method is selected according to the prominent ear structure. This decision is made by the plastic surgeon you choose for ear surgery. Many methods are used for prominent ear surgery. Removal of cartilage from the ear or pinning back with a thread, are the methods which are still in use today but less preferred. With these methods, it can be seen that the ears can restore the previous shape or cause various deformations.
In our clinic, we utilize the awarded Flap Technique (Modified Postauricular Fascial Flap) developed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suleyman TAS. During surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia for children under 12 years old, an incision is made from the back of the ear, and the flap is prepared in a modified way, so that the ear lies back and has a natural appearance. Absorbable sutures are used in this method, therefore there is no suture extrusion or sensitivity of the ear in the long term. This method is permanent.
When local anesthesia is applied, there is no need to stay overnight in the hospital. However, if general anesthesia is applied, we recommend that you certainly remain under observation in the hospital for 1 night after surgery.
During the operation, there is a dressing on the ears similar to a band. This bandage should remain for 3 days without taking it off, and for 2 weeks only at nights. After 3 days, these bandages are removed in the shower and social life can be continued. It is not a painful process. However, the process can be a bit difficult because children are a more sensitive than adults. However, this difficult process is limited to the first night after surgery. Anything is not felt afterwards.
As can be expected, temporary edema occurs at the operation site after the prominent ear surgery. Two weeks after the surgery, the swelling subsides and the ear starts to look normal. As a result, your child begins to feel safer and more socially confident and the psychological traumas that may arise from the ear structure are prevented.
For children; If parents want, the surgery can be planned after 6 years of age. And it can even be waited until the child grows up and makes his own decisions. He/she can be operated on his/her own decision.
You can find other details about the prominent ear surgery from the link. You may also contact TAŞ Aesthetic Surgery Center to book an appointment and get more information about prominent ear surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prominent Ear Surgery
Ear Surgery Before After Pictures
