What intervention is it about?

The ears with their conformation, position and shape are an important aesthetic element of the face. Ears that are too protruding are due to the failure of re-fold during the development of the supporting cartilage of the auricle. Therefore, the defect commonly defined as waving ears, can constitute a psychological as well as an aesthetic problem.

Can it also be done to children?

Otoplasty is the surgery that allows you to correct these malformations. It is possible to correct this defect already in children aged 6-7 years. At this is the ear is fully developed and the full collaboration of the little patient will take full advantage.

The surgery can be proposed with adequate preparation and discussion between the plastic surgeon, the anesthesiologist and the parents.An examination of the skin of the external and middle ear is performed, associating a photographic examination that allows to program the surgery and share the patient’s expectations.

What factors are to be considered?

Among the important factors to consider and in the pre-operative evaluation, the following should be considered:
Age: at the present time, otoplasty surgery can be performed correctly from the age of six, without fear of altering the subsequent growth of the auricle
Emotional factors: the ear deformity largely exposes the patient, especially in pediatric age, to the ridicule of peers, resulting in a frequent sense of insecurity, evident at the time of medical consultation: this derives both from the evident unsightly appearance of the prominent ear, and from the fact that this condition typically evokes a reaction of derision and mockery in the surrounding environment: such situations begin with school age and become more acute around 10 years of age; for these reasons, the young patients who undergo the surgery are often over-cooperating and motivated about the correction: this suggests a certain precocity of the surgery to avoid the onset of permanent psychological trauma and allows the complete explanation of all the details in addition and postoperative even to small patients.
The condition of microtia / anotia is different, i.e. the lack of development of the ear, with 4 progressive degrees of deformity, up to the complete absence of the ear (anotia). In this case, more complex reconstruction techniques are envisaged, involving the removal of cartilage from the ribs (as described by Professor Firmin of Paris).