Ear Aesthetics Surgery (Otoplasty)

The prominent ear is often perceived as “an ear bigger than it should be.” However, this definition is not entirely correct. There is actually no difference in ear size between a person with prominent ears and a person with normal ears. The problem is only related to the shape of the ear cartilages.

Where Is The Problem With Prominent Ears? 
The problem focuses on two points:
1. The angle that the ear makes with the head may be wider than it should be. This situation makes the ear protrude outward. It is especially obvious in the back view of the ear.
2. The folds that should be in the upper half of the ear are not formed and the ear looks straight as if it has been ironed.

What is done in the surgery?

What is done in prominent ear surgery is basically changing the shape of the ear. Separate interventions are made for these two problems mentioned above.
For the problem I mentioned first, in other words, if the angle made by the ear with the head is wider than it should be, in order to reduce this angle, solid stitches are made exactly where the ear meets the head and this angle is narrowed.
For the second problem I mentioned, strong stitches are placed on the cartilage under the skin behind the ear and the ear is “bent”. The aim is to transform this flat ironed image into a natural curl.

You can rehearse what I said in front of the mirror with your hand. Press your fingertip from the middle of your ear to the back, this will be the solution to the first problem mentioned above.
Likewise, you can create folds by pressing the outer and upper edge of the ear.

How is the Surgery Performed? 
In the surgery, an incision is made right behind the ear. Since this is right behind, I can say that it almost leaves no scars. All operations can be done easily from here.
The operation can be performed under general or local anesthesia, and there is no stitch that needs to be removed after surgery.
. I guess it would be realistic to say a week for the recovery period, but you can be discharged on the same day and it is okay to go out a few days later. You can probably take a bath after 2–3 days.

Is it Necessary to Wear a Headband? 
After this surgery, it may be useful to wear a tennis band for protective purposes. But I do not suggest to my patients this as an absolute condition. If you pay attention during the day and protect your ears well, you do not need to wear such a band.

What is the earliest age for this surgical intervention?
This is the plastic surgery we can do at the youngest age. This surgery can be performed even in primary school age.The reason is psychological, because children are sometimes negatively affected by being with prominent ears.
But the basic condition here is that the child wants to undergo surgery himself. I definitely talk alone with the children and explain clearly what this operation means, the pain to be felt, needles, stitches, etc. If the child is still willing, then I do the surgery. In my opinion, this surgical intervention should definitely not be performed on a child under the influence of the parents. Parents should also be sensitive in this regard.

Complications and Problems: 

Bleeding risk encountered in every surgery can also occur here. But since there is no serious vessel in the ear, this bleeding may be in the form of blood accumulation, which is called “hematoma”. Infection is a feared complication in the ear. 

Ear cartilage is hardly inflamed, but if it is inflamed, it can turn into a rapidly progressing problem that can disrupt the shape of the ear.

Asymmetry is one of the problems you may experience aesthetically. Many patients already have some asymmetry before surgery, and it is not always that easy to fix the asymmetry. But one can enter this surgery with symmetrical ears and exit with asymmetrical ears. 

Another problem arises when the ears are brought too close to the head. I can also say this as an overcorrected prominent ear. In my opinion, it would be better to have poorly corrected ears instead. In other words, instead of ears sticking to your head, they would be more natural if they were prominent and turned outward.

I should also mention that these unlucky and unfavorable possibilities are of course rare, albeit possible, this surgery usually gives very good results and the patients are very satisfied.