Bat Ear Surgery – Otoplasty- Pinnaplasty
Some people’s ears stick out more than normal. This condition is sometimes referred to as “bat ears”. Ears that stick out do not cause any physical problems, but they can make people feel self-conscious and can lead to children being teased. Prominent ears can be corrected with an operation.
The main treatment for prominent ears is an operation called pinnaplasty or otoplasty, that reshapes the cartilage (gristly tissue) in the ear and uses plastic stitches to pin the ears back (or sometimes just by using the stitches alone).
Otoplasty or ear surgery is the procedure used to modify the size and shape of your ears in order to give them a more pleasant look. If your ears stand out prominently or are too big, this is your chance to stop being ashamed of them and harmonize your face
What does Otoplasty do?
It reduces the projection of prominent ears. The angle between the head and the ear is about 35°. Many people consider a greater angle to be unaesthetic. Do people talk about your ears? Were you laughed at in school? Then this surgery may be the right thing for you. It reduces the size of big ears. It corrects irregularities in the outline of the ear, such as the outline of ‘pointy ears’ or of ‘lop ears’. It may also help correct earlobe problems such as lacerations due to heavy earrings, enlargement of the earlobe due to aging and scars from previous face-lifts.
What does an Otoplasty NOT do?
Even though it will make your face look more beautiful and harmonious, and it will probably also improve your self-esteem, it will not be enough to make you look perfect. We must be realistic and accept that that kind of perfection does not exist.
How is Otoplasty performed?
The surgeon makes a vertical incision on the back of each ear exposing the cartilage that is under the skin (this cartilage is what gives the ear firmness and defines its shape). There are two possible procedures, according to the particular characteristics of each case: a) The surgeon sculpts the cartilage and folds it towards the head to reduce its projection, then he sutures with permanent stitches that will hold it in the desired position. b) The surgeon removes part of the cartilage to achieve a larger reduction before folding it towards the head, then he sutures with permanent stitches that will hold it in the desired position.
