Prominent Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Prominent ear surgery, medically known as otoplasty, is a surgical procedure aimed at giving the ear a more aesthetically pleasing appearance when the ear is protruding forward and its folds are underdeveloped.

Terms such as "prominent ear," "bat ear," and "flared ear" are different names used to describe the same condition. Prominent ears often have a familial trait, meaning that if one parent has prominent ears, it is likely their child may also have them. If you have prominent ears, there is a 50% chance that your child will as well.

Contents:

• Who Is a Candidate for Prominent Ear Surgery?
• How Is Prominent Ear Surgery Performed?
• Post-Surgery Recovery Process
• Alternatives and Complementary Treatments to Prominent Ear Surgery
• Cost of Prominent Ear Surgery

The main reason for a prominent and more visible ear is the underdevelopment of the antihelix, the fold in the middle of the ear. In most patients, the ear size is actually normal, but due to the lack of this fold, the outer part of the ear does not tilt backward as it should.

Another cause of prominent ears is an enlarged and deep concha, the bowl-shaped cartilage surrounding the ear canal. In rare cases, prominent ears can result from an overall larger ear size due to developmental factors.

Prominent ear surgery includes specific treatment strategies for each of these causes.

Who Is a Candidate for Prominent Ear Surgery? Prominent ear surgery is performed on individuals who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their ears and find the prominence of their ears socially challenging. Common reasons for seeking this surgery include being teased by schoolmates and difficulties in styling hair. The surgery can be performed on school-aged children as well as adults. Candidates for prominent ear surgery should be healthy with realistic expectations. Normally, ears are slightly visible from the front view, and there is always some degree of asymmetry between the ears. The surgery aims to bring the appearance back to normal. Expecting the ears to be entirely invisible from the front view or to achieve perfect symmetry between the ears is unrealistic.

How Is Prominent Ear Surgery Performed? Prominent ear correction surgery can be performed under local anesthesia without putting the patient to sleep. A 4-5 cm incision is made behind the ear, which remains hidden in the ear crease. Through this incision, the back surface of the cartilage is accessed. The ear is shaped using various suturing techniques that fold and bring the cartilage closer to the head. Several types of surgical sutures are used in ear surgery, some of which are absorbable, while others are permanent. Therefore, the term "ear aesthetics with sutures" can be misleading, as there is no such thing as ear aesthetics without sutures. Ear aesthetics can also be performed by passing sutures through the cartilage without making an incision behind the ear; however, the precision, permanence, and shaping power of these techniques are limited.

Post-Surgery Recovery Process Following ear surgery, pain in the ears is expected during the first 48 hours. Similarly, after prominent ear surgery, the ears may swell and slightly bruise. Swelling and bruising usually subside to a level where normal activities can resume within 7-10 days. To prevent the cartilage from reopening after prominent ear correction surgery, a headband or hairband may be needed for 3-6 weeks. Bathing can be done on the second day after prominent ear surgery, and there are no restrictions on getting the ears wet. Post-surgery follow-up appointments are scheduled for the first month, third month, and the first year.

Alternatives and Complementary Treatments to Prominent Ear Surgery Medical literature suggests that prominent ear issues can be resolved with special shaping devices applied within the first few weeks after birth. However, this type of treatment, which could affect the baby's head movements and feeding patterns, and requires frequent hospital visits, has not gained widespread acceptance anywhere in the world. Additionally, after the first month of life, this apparatus treatment is no longer effective. Therefore, claims of non-surgical ear aesthetics or non-surgical correction of prominent ears should not be trusted. Prominent ear aesthetics are most commonly combined with rhinoplasty. The combination of these two procedures can result in a significant improvement in a person's appearance.

Cost of Prominent Ear Surgery The cost of prominent ear surgery varies depending on the hospital, the experience of the doctor, and the extent of the procedure. The prices for prominent ear surgery within Ankara also differ based on the healthcare institution where the surgery is performed. Ankara offers very competitive pricing for prominent ear surgery compared to overseas, attracting many patients from abroad to visit Turkey and Ankara for this procedure each year.