Otoplasty is an operation that aims to correct the protruding ears. Floppy ears appear very early in a child’s life and are congenital, meaning that it is pre-written in the child’s genetic material that the ears will develop in such a way that they will be floppy.
When do we operate on the floppy ears?
Children are usually operated on before they start school, around the age of 6. The reason they are operated on so early is to avoid phenomena at school that will affect the child’s psychology, especially from the comments of their classmates.
Does the surgery affect the further development of the ears?
Actually not because at this age the development of the wing cartilage is fully completed.
Can this operation be done at an older age as in adulthood?
It can be done at any age, from early childhood to adulthood, whenever the adult feels ready for the operation.
How is otoplasty surgery performed?
An incision is made behind the ear to bring the ear flaps back to their normal position. We may also need to reshape the shape of the ears if necessary.
This procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia. In children it is preferable to be performed under general anesthesia.
Immediately after the otoplasty, a bandage is placed around the head and remains in place until the first change, which is done in three days. The patient can then be bathed with an antiseptic product and a sports bandage can be applied which should be used until six weeks after the operation.