Prominent Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Prominent ear deformity is the condition where the ears protrude excessively from the head and are visibly prominent from the front or back. It is observed in approximately 5% of the population in various types and degrees. This condition can occur in either one or both ears and may lead to psychological issues.

The treatment that requires surgical intervention for correcting the prominent ear deformity is called"otoplasty."Otoplasty surgeries are performed to correct the prominent ear deformity.

There are two main problems in the formation of prominent ear deformity.

• The first is that the fold called "antihelix" in the auricle is not fully formed.
• The second one is the excessive development of the "conchal" cartilage within the auricle. These two conditions cause the appearance of a prominent or protruding ear.

The development of the earlobe is usually completed around the age of 10. You can undergo otoplasty surgery at any stage of your life. However, particularly in children, psychological issues may arise during school age due to environmental factors. Therefore, otoplasty surgeries are generally performed on school-aged children.

In otoplasty surgeries, general anesthesia is generally preferred for young children. However, for older children and adults, the surgery can be performed using local anesthesia or sedative medications.

There are various methods and techniques in otoplasty surgeries. In some techniques, shaping is achieved by using sutures on the cartilage, while in others, weakening is performed on the cartilage to facilitate shaping. In additional techniques, cartilage may be partially excised.

Especially in early ages when cartilages are softer, shaping the earlobe through sutures is preferred. In adults, however, other techniques may be necessary. If the problem is mainly due to the excessive development of the conchal cartilage, removing a certain amount of cartilage may be required.