Ear Surgery

Having the ears grow larger is a natural part of aging. Unfortunately, some people are born with ears that protrude more than average. In many cases, this can lead to decreased self-esteem and loss of confidence, especially if children are teased about the shape of their ears. Ear surgery is a great way to correct protruding ears and restore a more natural appearance.

Because of the possibility of teasing and bullying for children who have protruding or prominent ears, our surgeons recommend having ear surgery at the age of six in order to correct the issue. While it’s possible to correct ears later in life, by that point, the patient might be psychologically and emotionally damaged from the judgment they’ve faced from others. However, it is possible for otoplasty to be performed too early, before the ears have finished developing. For most children, our surgeons recommend thinking about ear surgery around the ages of six to eight. At this point, the ears will have reached maturity and can be manipulated without the risk of them further changing shape.

During ear surgery for children, your surgeon can work on a number of cosmetic defects, including:

• Ears that are the wrong size, position, or shape
• Shell ear, which is when part of the outer rim of the ear is missing
• Lop ear, which is when the ear tips fold down and forward

Overall, our surgeon’s goal is to create a natural-looking ear that can help your child grow up to be confident in their appearance.

Patients who are unhappy with the shape, size, or position of their ears can greatly benefit from an otoplasty. The procedure has numerous psychological benefits and can improve a patient’s life in many ways.

First of all, an otoplasty greatly increases patients’ confidence levels. Previously, they may have felt awkward in social situations because of the fear of being judged for the size of their ears. They may have even shied away from job interviews or other professional opportunities because they felt like their ear issues would be a hindrance to success. Luckily, these issues will all fade away with an otoplasty. Patients will be able to live their lives without always second-guessing what others think about them.

Another reason many patients have come to Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery for ear surgery is that our surgeons can fix the ears after an accident or trauma. If a person suffers damage to their earlobe, especially in a traumatic event, seeing themselves in the mirror can remind them of the terrible ordeal they went through. By having their ears repaired, it can help them move forward from the tragedy and get back to their normal lives.

Most of all, ear surgery will allow patients to be themselves without fear. There will be no more hiding behind hats or long haircuts; instead, patients can rock the pixie cut or ponytail they’ve always dreamed of without hiding in the background, thanks to their boosted self-esteem.