Otoplasty
For those who suffer from prominent ears, Otoplasty is a fantastic procedure that can help individuals of all ages to experience more natural looking ears. Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure that takes many forms. It can involve ear pinning which involves setting prominent ears closer to the head, it can reduce the size of very big ears or it can reshape various bends in ear cartilage for a more natural looking shape. Ears are one of the most prominent facial features. Adults and children who suffer from abnormally shaped ears often have social issues such as embarrassment, ridicule, self esteem and poor confidence. People that undergo this surgery benefit both physically and emotionally.
The procedure can be done by an oral/ maxillofacial surgeon, plastic surgeon or Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon. For pinning, the surgery is performed by making an incision behind the ear in the natural fold to hide the scar, and a vertical slice of cartilage is removed. If the ear is abnormally formed, extra surgical work is involved and more than one surgery could be needed to rebuild the ear.
The majority of ear surgery patients are children between the ages of 4 and 14. The ears are fully formed by the age of 4 and parents tend to opt for this surgery early to avoid any untoward social issues for their child. Otoplasty is also an option for adults who suffer from large protruding ears. There are few risks associated with this surgery, however all surgical procedures have risks and complications. The national average cost for Otoplasty can range from $2000 to $5000.
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