Ear correction

Problematic deviations regarding the ears are often frustrating, even if they can sometimes be hidden under the hair. With a simple procedure, it is possible to completely remedy this and also amend a patient’s mentality – both for children and adults. Protruding ears is one of the most common inharmonic congenital malformations of the ears. Especially with children, teasing can lead to shame and feelings of inferiority due to conspicuously protruding ears, and in the worst case, even cause mental disorders.

In order to avoid such issues both at an early age for children, as well as for adults, undergoing otoplasty may help to reduce these negative effects so that all patients can experience a renewed self-esteem.

A patient may wish to undergo otoplasty for the following reasons:

• Constricted “cup ears”
• Lop ear (a flopped down upper ear pole)
• A stunted shape of the auricle
• Atypical cartilage folds
• Indentations
• Missing earlobes
• Microtia: extensive absence of the auricle except for a lobule with or without auricular remnant
• Defects of parts of the auricle (pinna) up to total loss due to accident or tumor surgery (tumor in the ear)
• Any enhancement to an imbalance in the aesthetic appearance or functionality according to each patient’s individual wishes and needs

What is an otoplasty?

Otoplasty, also known as ear surgery, involves a surgery in which the ears are operated upon in order to rectify disfigurements that came from a result of a previous illness, accident, or congenital malformations. The overall goal is to construct a balanced appearance as well as reformed functional capabilities.

Form of anesthesia, hospital stay?

For children under 10 years of age, this operation should always be performed under anesthesia in the clinic with a short inpatient stay. If the children are older than 10 years, the procedure can also be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, since these children are more accessible to explanations and reassurance.

The time after the operation

On the day of the operation itself, pain may occur in the afternoon after the local anesthetic has subsided. On this day painkillers such as Novalgin drops or Paracetamol help. The following day the pain almost completely subsided.
The operated ears are immobilized with a fix head bandage for 2-3 days. The bandage is removed after this time, and no further bandage is necessary. Then the hair can be washed again. In the following 4-6 weeks, a tennis headband should be worn, especially at night – so that one does not lie on the freshly operated ear and pull threads by kinking – that keeps the ears on the head while sleeping.

Risks and Complications

It is possible that if you lose the headband, one ear folds down at night and a thread can tear out. If this happens, a new thread can be introduced with a small intervention and the folded ear can be returned to the operated position. The skin of the ear is very well supplied with blood, in rare cases this can lead to rebleeding. Cartilage or skin infections after this operation are rare because of the good blood circulation. The ears may not be sensitive to touch for a few weeks. This is because cutaneous nerves at the back of the ear are cut. Until they have grown back, hypersensitivity can even occur temporarily. After 3-4 days, the symptoms have subsided so much that the child can usually go back to school. The same applies to the ability to work in adults. For outpatient procedures, you will receive an emergency number after the operation so that you can reach us day and night. Otherwise, the first check is carried out after 2-3 days, during which the bandage is removed.