

Non-removable stitches may be used to help maintain the new shape. The cartilage will then be sculpted and bent back toward the head. Ear reshaping usually takes about two to three hours, depending on the extent of the surgery and technique used.ĭuring a common ear reshaping procedure, the surgeon begins by making an incision behind the ear, at the point where the ear naturally joins the head. General anesthesia keeps you asleep throughout the entire procedure and is typically recommended for children. Local anesthesia numbs the ear and surrounding area, and is combined with a sedative to keep you relaxed but awake during surgery. To keep you comfortable during your procedure, you will be given local or general anesthesia. If you are admitted to the hospital, you will usually only stay one or two nights. ProcedureĮar reshaping is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in an office-based surgical suite, hospital or outpatient surgery center. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have, and express your concerns and expectations related to the surgery. If you decide to have ear reshaping, and your surgeon thinks that you are a good candidate, he or she will explain the techniques and anesthesia that will be used, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed and the risks and costs involved.

Children who feel uncomfortable about their ears and want the surgery are often more cooperative during the healing process. If your child doesn't want to have surgery, you shouldn't insist on it. If you are considering ear reshaping for your child, it is important to put your child's wants and needs first. Your surgeon will evaluate your ears and their relationship to other features on your face to determine the best technique to meet your cosmetic goals. Please come to the initial visit with information about your medical history, which includes previous surgeries, present and past health problems, and any medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements you have taken or are currently taking. If you are considering ear reshaping, you will meet with a facial plastic surgeon for a consultation.

It is important to note that even if you have only one ear that protrudes, your surgeon will usually recommend reshaping both ears to create a better balance. Large or stretched earlobes, or earlobes with large creases and wrinklesĪlso, children who are born without ears or people who lose them in an injury may have artificial ears surgically attached.Ears with deformities, such as "lop ear," in which the tips fold down and forward or "shell ear," in which the curve in the ear's outer rim and natural folds and creases are missing.

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While people of all ages opt for ear reshaping, the procedure is most often performed on children between the ages of 4 to 14, since ears reach their full growth by the time a child turns 4 years old.Ĭhildren, teens and adults who have the following may be good candidates for ear reshaping:
