Mr Nigam ENT Treatments - Prominent Ears
Some people's ears stick out more than normal. This condition is sometimes referred to as "bat ears". Ears that stick out do not cause any physical problems, but they can make people feel self-conscious and can lead to children being teased. Prominent ears can be corrected with an operation. About one to two percent of the people in the UK think that their ears stick out too much. Ears are one of the first parts of the body to reach full size, which is why protruding ears can be more noticeable in children.
Treatment
The main treatment for prominent ears is an operation called pinnaplasty or otoplasty, that reshapes the cartilage (gristly tissue) in the ear and uses plastic stitches to pin the ears back (or sometimes just by using the stitches alone). The procedure may also be known as "ear pinning".
There is no medical need to have a pinnaplasty, but people with protruding ears often feel unhappy with their appearance. Children are particularly vulnerable to teasing and name-calling, which can cause great distress.
In adults and children, pinnaplasty is the only way to permanently "pin back" the ears. In babies younger than about six months, it is possible to flatten the ears using special moulds, e.g. Ear Buddies to reshape the cartilage while it is still soft. Splints are fitted into the baby's ears, and left in place for weeks or months, depending on the age of the baby.
A pinnaplasty can be performed under a local or general anaesthetic, but a general anaesthetic is usually used for children. This means they are asleep and feel no pain throughout the procedure.
With a local anaesthetic, the skin around the area is cleaned and an injection is given. This numbs the ears, so that although the person is awake for the operation, they feel no pain.
A pinnaplasty usually takes between one and two hours and is usually done as a day case, with no overnight stay in hospital.
Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the surgeon makes small cuts behind each ear to expose the cartilage. The cartilage is then reshaped and special plastic stitches are used to hold the ear back in its new position. Another option is to fold the cartilage back and use stitches to hold the ear in position.
Finally, stitches are used to close the cuts in the skin. These are usually dissolvable, which means they do not need to be removed, but there may also be some stitches that need removing.
After stitching the incision closed, a tight and bulky bandage is wrapped around the head and over both ears, like a large sweatband. This is to protect the ears and keep them held in the new position while they heal.
To help the ears settle in their new positions and to ensure healing, the bulky bandage should be worn for one to two weeks. This may cover the ears and make it difficult to hear, and it will probably not be possible to wash the hair with this bandage in place. However, it is an essential part of the healing process. The ears may itch as they heal but it is important not to reach under the bandaging to scratch, as this can cause infection or poor healing.
It will not be possible to go swimming for at least two weeks, and contact sports should be avoided for around eight weeks.
Pinnaplasty is a commonly performed and generally safe surgical procedure. For most people, the benefits in terms of improved appearance are greater than any.