Surgery of the Ear (otoplasty)


Ear surgery or otoplasty, is usually done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. For the most part, the operation is done on children between the ages of four and 14. Ear surgery on adults is also possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an older patient.

Besides protruding ears, there are variety if other problems that can be helped with surgery. These include: “lop ear”, when the tip seems to fold down an forward; “cupped ear”, which is usually a very small ear, and “shell ear”, when the curve in the outer rim, as well as the natural folds and creases, are missing. Surgery can also improve large or stretched earlobes, or lobes with large creases and wrinkles. New ears can even be built for those who were born without them or who lost them through injury. For ear reconstruction, cartilage from the patient’s other ear, from the ribs or prosthetic material may be used, depending on the extent of the problem.