When it comes to ear correction surgery, most of us think of it as a treatment for pinning back prominent ears. Whilst this is certainly a common reason to have ear correction surgery, there are lots of other issues that surgery can help to address.
In addition to prominent ears, we treat people who want to reduce the size of their ears or change the shape. A common issue is ‘lop ear’, when the tip seems to fold down and forward, or ‘cupped ear’, where the ear is unusually small. Then there is ‘shell ear’ in which the natural folds and creases are missing. In some instances, only one ear requires surgery.
As you can see, the range of ear-related issues is far-reaching. However, the common strand linking all of these issues is the inevitable impact on self-esteem. Because your ears are such a noticeable feature, it can be hard to hide ears you are not happy with and this can make you feel very self-conscious.
Because we rarely carry out ear corrective surgery, on under 18s, it’s not unusual for someone to have lived with being unhappy with their ears for some time. This is particularly difficult for those who have lived through childhood taunts - unfortunately cruel comments continue all too often into adulthood.
If you would like to consider ear corrective surgery, also known as pinnaplasty or otoplasty, start with an initial consultation with a member of our experienced surgical team. We have many years of experience in ear corrective surgery so can assess your ears and discuss the right treatment to address your particular challenge.
The actual procedure used in your ear correction surgery will depend upon the issue being addressed. At the initial consultation, we can assess your ears and face and understand what a good result would look like from your perspective. We can then provide information about what’s involved in your surgery, how long surgery will last, what it will involve, whether you’ll be left with scarring and how long your recovery is likely to take.
This conversation can help you get your questions answered so you can make an informed decision about whether surgery is right for you. It will also enable you to understand what end results can be achieved. If you do decide to go ahead with surgery you can do so, safe in the knowledge that you and your surgeon have a shared vision.
We cannot stress how important this is. Having lived with ears you’re not happy with for so long, we want you to complete surgery being delighted with your results - and able to go on to live life with greater confidence than ever before.