Ear surgery: what it consists of, prices and results

Prominent ears, looped ears or “puff” ears are a fairly common congenital malformation in contemporary society.. This feature is considered present when the ear projects more than 21-30 degrees (20 in children, 25 in the elderly, and 30 in adults) from the atrio-encephalic angle.

The etiology of this aesthetic "failure" is mainly hereditary, since it is an autosomal dominant character with variable penetrance. It is estimated that up to 59% of affected individuals have a family history of this trait, representing approximately 5% of the total population. By mere social constructs, looped ears have been correlated on multiple occasions with a lack of confidence, low self-esteem and fear of rejection.

In addition, it has been observed that this aesthetic trait is one of the main triggers of depression during childhood. Therefore, we are not surprised to learn that Otoplasties (ear surgeries) are very common in infants between 8 and 14 years of age. If you want to know everything about this procedure, keep reading.

• We recommend you read: "Surgery for droopy eyelids (blepharoplasty): procedure, risks and price"

What is an ear surgery or otoplasty?

Otoplasty is a very simple surgical procedure of an aesthetic nature, the purpose of which is to reshape or reduce the size of the ears. This is done so that the patient's facial structure shows greater symmetry and, therefore, can improve their external image and personal confidence.

Otoplasty is common in patients of any age, gender and ethnicity, although it is not recommended before age 8 years, as the patient's physiology has not fully stabilized and the effects may not be the same. desired. In any case, the issue of cosmetic interventions in underage infants is a bit complex, since it is always sought that it is the individual himself who decides to take the step, and not his fathers.

The intervention only requires a prior character in the patient: having ears too far apart, asymmetrical, or large. Reconstruction procedures are also included within the umbrella of otoplasties after an injury or even the placement of an artificial structure when the ear is missing for full. Because these last interventions are not aesthetic but pathological, we leave them for another opportunity.

Why have ears operated?

If you are reading this out of curiosity, you may find it strange that a person with looped ears decides to undergo surgery, truth? Perhaps the following facts and figures will change your mind.

Studies carried out with large samples of patients with looped ears show us some revealing data:

• 8 out of 10 interviewees think that their physiology can be a source of ridicule or derogatory comments.
• 54% of all of them, on the other hand, admit to having suffered practical jokes about their ears at some point in their life.
• In 47% of the patients, these teasing resulted in a greater or lesser degree of psychological affectation.
• 77% affirm that social pressure to have ears in the shape of a puff could lead the person to become socially isolated.

In addition, almost half of those surveyed admit to changing their hairstyles and lifestyle solely in order to disguise the structure of their ears. Equally, up to 45% of those who suffer from this condition see favorably undergoing an intervention to solve this problem, although the monetary impediments are multiple.

What does this operation consist of?

First of all, it is necessary to know that ear surgery is approached very differently depending on the purpose of the procedure. There are 3 main variants. We tell you about them in a few lines.

1. Separated ear surgery

This procedure is performed in those patients with looped ears, that is, "too" separated from the face. As the deformity is usually due to an excess of cartilage or a lack of modeling of the same, the most common is to make an incision in the back of the ear and sculpt it, so that it shows less prominent.

The cartilage can bend backwards if the problem is due to lack of modeling or, failing that, removal of a segment may be necessary if there is an excess of it. Once the correction is made, stitches are applied and a scar is formed, which will be imperceptible in the long term. The procedure lasts about 90 minutes, anesthesia is local and complete recovery is achieved in 2-7 days.

2. Ear reduction surgery

This operation can be done in combination with the previous one or in isolation. In this case, the size of the ear is reduced by intervening in the pinna, the auricular tubercle or in both areas.

3. Non-invasive treatments

These types of procedures do not fall within the definition of surgery, but it is necessary to take them into account, to inform patients about all possible options. There are over-the-counter products that act as "glues" or "plasters" for the ears, including "Otostick Aesthetic Ear Corrector", available at any online pharmacy.

Despite being harmless to the skin and resistant to sweat and water, they are still temporary solutions that last little more than a few hours. Due to its price and low utility, its use is not recommended in professional clinics.

What to expect

Ear surgeries are for life, so once they are done, there is no going back. The ideal is to think beforehand if you really want to take the step and, if it is the case that the one who wants to undergo the operation is a minor, allow him to discuss his problems and insecurities with a professional in the field psychological. Despite the fact that it is a minimally invasive procedure that does not report a psychological burden, it never hurts to prevent.

Beyond the aesthetic effects of the operation, we cannot ignore that there are risks inherent to it. Among them, we find the following:

• Excessive bleedingTo avoid this, it is forbidden for the patient to take aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs up to 2 weeks before the operation.
• InfectionAlthough unlikely, the stitches that give rise to the scar can cause an ear infection.
• Asymmetry: no face is perfectly symmetrical, so the result may not be 100% perfect.
• Numbness and pain in the affected area: they are infrequent, but they must be reported anyway.

Can I go deaf after an otoplasty?

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is that it is practically impossible to go deaf after ear surgery. You must bear in mind that an otoplasty modifies the outer part of the ears (the pinna), but does not touch the ear canal per se. Therefore, the risk of hearing loss is simply non-existent, unless serious infections occur and spread to internal structures.

What can happen is that you, as a patient, perceive sounds a little differently after the operation. After all, the ears are the receptacle for the reception of sound waves, so any modification in them can slightly change the sense of hearing.

Price

We cannot give you an exact figure, but, browsing the web, there are prices starting at 1,800 euros. This monetary value depends a lot on the patient's condition, since a unilateral otoplasty does not cost the same as a bilateral one, for example.

As a general rule (after a correction of both ears), the average price is around 3,500 euros. Earlier we said that there is a clear monetary barrier to undergo this procedure: now you understand why.

Resume

As you may have seen, handle ears are a serious problem for the self-esteem of those who present them. Especially in childhood, this completely harmless feature from a physiological point of view It is cause for laughter and ridicule, which can translate into psychological problems in the infant in the long run term. Thus, many otoplasties are performed on children and adolescents.

In the end, it is up to each individual whether it is worth investing a significant sum of money to solve a reason for personal insecurity. We have exposed you the data: the final decision, as always, is in your hand.