The condition in which the ears appear more than normal from both sides of the head when viewed from the front is called prominent ear. With prominent ear correction surgeries, which can be done from childhood, it is possible to eliminate this problem.
01At What Age Is Prominent Ear Surgery Done?
When children are 4 years old, ear development is 80 percent complete. Prominent ear surgery is recommended to be done when the child can tolerate local anaesthesia and is self-aware. Considering the child's social development too, it is suitable to do it from the age of 7. However, when the decision for surgery is made, how much "prominence" there is in the patient's ear is an important factor.
There is no harm in applying surgery at an earlier age to children who are made fun of by their friends during the school period and are psychologically affected. There is no upper age limit for the surgery; the operation can be done at any age the patient wishes.
02The Prominent Ear Surgery Process
In prominent ear surgeries local anaesthesia is usually preferred. However, if the patient is at a young age, if it will be combined with an operation such as adenotonsillectomy or circumcision, or if the patient's wish is in this direction, it is also performed under general anaesthesia. The surgery takes approximately 1-2 hours.
It is a surgery done from behind the ear. Especially in small children, because the cartilage has not yet hardened, the method popularly known as "suspension with thread" can be applied. In this method, the ear can be shaped only with sutures without the ear skin being opened at all. After sufficient information about the post-operative care is given, this method is advantageous because the recovery time is short.
At older ages and with larger deformities, the method in which a 3-4 cm incision is surgically made so that a scar remains only behind the ear, a part of the cartilage is removed and the forward-coming part of the ear is fixed to the scalp with sutures can also be used.
The patient's age has no effect on the success of the surgery. Only, as with all surgeries, the recovery time is longer at older ages; as age advances the healing tissue forms more slowly.
03After Prominent Ear Surgeries
Since the surgery is performed under local anaesthesia, the patient is discharged the same day. After surgery, a bandage is applied to stay for two days so that there is no swelling and bleeding. At the end of the second day the patient is called for a check-up and the elastic bandage is opened by the specialist doctor. Afterwards, a bandage in the form of a hairband or tennis band is worn at night for 10 days and recovery is completed in this way.
Although the time to look as if no surgery has been done varies from person to person, the swelling and oedema pass completely in around 10-12 days. One waits 3 weeks to enter the pool and the sea; a bath can be taken after the third day.
The possibility of recurrence after surgery is a very rarely seen situation. This surgery provides a definitive solution.