Ear surgery is typically performed to set prominent ears back closer to the head, or to reduce the size of large ears. Surgery may be helpful for "lop ear," "cupped ear" and "shell ear," large or stretched earlobes, and lobes with large creases and wrinkles. It is also possible to construct new ears for patients who are missing them due to injury or other causes.

Who is a candidate for Ear Surgery?

The operation can be performed on children as young as four years of age, when the ears are fully grown, in order to minimize teasing in school. Ear surgery on adults is also possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an older patient.

The Ear Reduction Procedure

The procedure lasts from two to three hours and may be performed in our outpatient surgery center under general or local anesthesia. Complicated procedures may take longer. The appropriate technique will depend on the nature of the problem. The most common procedure is to make a small incision in the back of the ear to expose the ear cartilage. Then Dr. Popham or Dr. White will sculpt the cartilage and bend it back toward the head. Non-removable stitches may be used to help maintain the new shape. Occasionally, Dr. Popham and Dr. White will remove a larger piece of cartilage to provide a more natural-looking fold when the surgery is complete.

Another technique involves a similar incision in the back of the ear. Skin is removed and stitches are used to fold the cartilage back on itself to reshape the ear without removing cartilage. In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the back if the ear, which will fade with time. Even when only one ear appears to protrude, surgery is usually performed on both ears for a better balance.

Both adults and children are usually up and around within a few hours of surgery. The patient's head will be wrapped in a bulky bandage immediately following surgery to promote the best molding and healing. The ears may throb or ache a little for a few days, but this can be relieved by medication.