Know any children who have had otoplasty (ear-pinning)?

Question

Looking for people's experiences with otoplasty surgery on their children or children they know.

Answer 1

Otoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures for children. The majority of patients who undergo otoplasty are between 4 and 14 years old, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, although many adults also elect to have the procedure.

Ear surgery can correct protruding ears (excessive ear cartilage), large or otherwise deformed earlobes, "lop ear" (where the ear tip bends down and forward), and "cupped" or "shell ear" (which could be a very tiny ear or an ear without natural creases). Today a select number of surgeons have developed techniques to create ears for patients who are missing all or part of their ears as a result of a birth defect or traumatic injury.

Children's ears are most often fully developed by age 4. There are no additional risks associated with age. The procedure is usually performed to improve the appearance of the ears so that the child would not have to endure ridicule from peers throughout their childhood.

Firmer cartilage of fully developed ears in adults does not provide the same molding capacity as in children. Having the procedure at a young age is highly desirable for two reasons:

The cartilage is extremely pliable, thereby permitting greater ease of shaping.

The child will experience psychological benefits earlier from the cosmetic improvement.

There are two common otoplasty techniques:

The surgeon first determines the incision location by finding the most inconspicuous site on the back of the ear. Once the incision is made, the surgeon will sculpt the exposed ear cartilage and re-position it closer to the head for a more natural-looking appearance. The surgeon may use non-removable stitches to help the cartilage maintain its position. In some cases, the surgeon will remove more excessive cartilage in order to enhance the ultimate appearance of the ear.

In the second common technique, skin is removed and the ear cartilage is folded back. There is no cartilage removed in this technique. Non-removable stitches are used to help the cartilage maintain its position. Dissolvable or removable stitches are used for the incision location, which are removed or dissolve within seven days.

For total ear reconstruction, otherwise known as congenital microtia (ear absence), a common approach begins with developing a framework from the ribs, then elevating the back, and placing a skin graft. The ear canal is then carved out — often it is necessary to rotate the lobule. Ears that are malformed due to trauma (including burns) may undergo a variation of the reconstruction process, possibly with more extensive skin grafting, depending upon the extent of the tissue damage.