Generally, we don’t consider our ears to play an important role in our appearance. Rarely judged, they remain insignificant unless they are unattractive, outstanding, or large. If your ears are prominent and abnormal looking, they can mar your entire appearance, casting a shadow over your overall pleasing appearance.

Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, can improve the shape, appearance, or position of the ear, whether it is to correct a defect in the structure of the ear, treat an injury to the ear that has affected the shape, or simply for aesthetic reasons.

What is otoplasty?

otoplasty is‘Cosmetic ear surgery’ and has become quite common in both adults and children. It is done to change the position and shape of the ears. In other words, it makes your ears appear less prominent. It has several types, but the most common procedure is to shape the ears, placing them as close as possible to the skull.

Like any other surgical procedure, it has risks, especially for children. Many parents are reluctant to allow their children to undergo such facial surgery due to pain, infection, and symmetry issues.

If you or your child have disproportionately large ears, causing you to feel embarrassed, otoplasty can be a solid and permanent cosmetic solution. However, before making the decision to undergo this procedure, it is essential that you weigh its pros and cons to determine if it is worth it or not.

Advantages of otoplasty

1. Otoplasty is no different from any other cosmetic reconstructive surgery. The goal here is to improve your facial appearance. If your ears are large and appear too far from your skull, surgery can help reshape your ears and make them more proportionate.

2. Being bullied or teased because of the shape of the ears is not only common but also emotionally disheartening for both a child’s and an adult’s self-esteem. Bullying can be a big factor behind not liking your own ears. This cosmetic ear surgery will help you and your child regain lost confidence.

3. Surgery can restore the original shape of the ear if it was injured during an accident.

4. Surgery can help treat different types of defects in the structure of the ear.

5. The results are long-lasting, while the surgery requires very little time, usually completed in a couple of hours.

Cons of otoplasty

1. Otoplasty involves complications such as bleeding, cartilage infection, skin infection, and prolonged pain.

2. Cosmetic surgery sometimes takes a long time to heal, especially for the scars to fade or if the patient has health problems such as diabetes.

3. There have been cases of otoplasty where patients experienced permanent numbness of the face and ears.

4. The surgery mainly depends on the efforts and skills of the primary physician. If your chosen plastic surgeon is not professional and competent, you may face dangerous side effects after surgery.

5. Although cosmetic ear surgery is permanent, there is a 40 percent chance of possible relapse.

Bottom line

In conclusion, the idea of ​​otoplasty sounds nice and appealing and has many advantages, but it is essential to consider the disadvantages and associated side effects. It is a surgical process and carries the risk of bleeding, pain and infection which can become major concerns. Therefore, be sure to evaluate the procedures, recovery process, and possible results of surgery by discussing them with your plastic surgeon.