Does your child come home in tears because he or she is teased about their ears? Do you have lasting memories of being teased yourself because of the appearance of your ears? Children can be cruel, and the pain from playground taunts can last well into adulthood.
Luckily, children (and adults) can choose to address the source of their pain through cosmetic surgery. Dr. Jonathan Grant, a trusted facial plastic surgeon serving the Seattle area, explains the benefits of otoplasty, or ear surgery, here.
What Otoplasty Accomplishes
Otoplasty is designed to improve the appearance of ears that are oversized or misshapen, or that significantly protrude from the head. Depending on the specific treatment objective, surgery can help large ears look less prominent, give misshapen ears a more natural looking contour, improve the symmetry of the ears or bring them into a more natural position.
Otoplasty changes a patient’s self-view. Patients are happier and more comfortable with their appearance and more confident after surgery. Girls may feel more comfortable pulling their hair back and wearing it in ponytails, and boys may feel more comfortable wearing a shorter haircut.
Candidates for Otoplasty
Candidates for otoplasty range in age. Children as young as five that are bothered by their ears can safely undergo the procedure. The procedure can also be performed on young professionals that waited to have their ears corrected, and even adults well into their 50s or 60s that have life-long insecurities about their ears.
Regardless of age, otoplasty candidates should be in good health without any life-threatening illnesses that could impair the healing process. Candidates should not have untreated chronic ear infections at the time of surgery.
Young candidates should be able to understand and follow instructions, communicate their feelings and not object to surgery or having their ears bandaged for a week or two after the procedure. Their ear cartilage should be stable and developed enough to undergo surgery.
The best otoplasty candidates have a positive attitude and specific, reasonable expectations of surgery. Dr. Grant works closely with every candidate to identify his or her specific needs and goals and develop a treatment plan based around these objectives.
Learn More about Otoplasty
If you or your child is interested in having otoplasty to correct prominent or protruding ears, Dr. Grant can help. Call (360) 336-1947 or email our practice today to schedule an informational consultation with the otoplasty surgeon.
