“Dad, at school they made fun of me and I had a very bad time. They laughed at my ears…” Unfortunately, this can be a conversation between a child and his parents. Teasing for physical defects among young children is a very typical cruelty mechanism. A child may feel left out because of a visible defect in his ears. Sometimes, a few words of comfort or encouragement are enough for our children to resume their normal activities. But sometimes words are not enough. Fortunately, there are aesthetic solutions to overcome complexes, in this case otoplasty, which can make a child feel better and more confident.
Otoplasty or ear surgery is an operation that serves to correct the so-called protruding ears, among other problems such as ears that are too far away from the skull -also very frequent-. This technique can be practiced on adults and children. The recommended pediatric age for children is in the range of four (when the ears are almost fully developed) to 14 years of age. The most common anomalies are the aforementioned ear loops or ears separated from the head at a greater angle than usual. However, there are others such as having an overly large lobe, an almost non-existent rounded upper fold, or, on the contrary, more pointed – the so-called elf or goblin ears. Likewise, there may be an asymmetry between both ears, in position or size. In all these cases, otoplasty would be a good option to surgically reshape the ears of young and old. In most interventions, the scar will be hidden, so it will not leave visible sequelae.
The preoperative
In the first visit, the plastic surgeon will make an assessment of the patient’s aesthetic dysfunction. He/she will then determine which technique is the most suitable for each case. He must also explain to the patient -in the case of children to their parents or legal guardians- all the details of the preoperative and postoperative period, and what precautions must be taken to avoid any type of complication. The patient should also be informed of the surgical and recovery times. In the preoperative phase, the plastic surgeon will take a medical history of the patient and his habits, noting if he is taking medication. Before the operation, if necessary, a pre-anesthetic pediatric medication will be administered to avoid fear or anxiety reactions before the operating room. In the case of small children, parents should explain to them simply and naturally that the doctor is going to help them feel better by fixing their problem.
The operation and the postoperative period
This is a surgery that can last approximately two to three hours. Depending on the type of anesthesia, the patient will be discharged the same day. In pediatric surgeries, general anesthesia is generally recommended. In such cases, an overnight hospital stay would be necessary. After the operation, patients will wear a bandage that will cover their ears, to protect the ear and promote proper healing of the treated area. The plastic surgeon will give the pertinent indications on how to clean the area and how to remove and put on the bandages. It is recommended to sleep with the head elevated during the first days. Although it depends on each child, in general the little ones of the house will be able to return to school after approximately one week. The requirement is that they keep the elastic band in place after the operation. The final result may take about three months to become fully evident. But ultimately, ear surgery guarantees permanent results and, except in very rare cases, has no postoperative complications.