Protruding ears – a disadvantage already in childhood
Ears reach their original size at the age of four. Children and adolescents in particular suffer very badly from disformation of the ears or parts of them. They are often called as “Dumbo” or “The Guy with Dumbo ears”. They haven’t had a though time. But it doesn’t have to be, because ear correction is possible at any age. In our plastic surgery practice, we treat young patients as well as adults whose ears have been injured in an accident, for example. Every operation starts with an individual consultation in which we clarify methods and workflow. This is the only way we can guarantee the best possible results.
Please make an appointment by phone (+49-89-348123) or directly in our online calendar.
Operating duration
about 1 – 2 hours
Narcosis
local or general anaesthesia
Hospital stay
out- or inpatient (2-3 days)
Appear in public
Adults after about 7 days
Children after about 1 Week
Sport
after about 1 Month
Costs
from 1.500 € per ear*
*bill according to scale of fees for doctors (GOÄ)
Ear Correction – typical problems
An ear correction is usually done to flatten protruding ears or to shrink large ears. Children between the ages of 4 and 14 are often treated. Ears have reached their final size by the age of four. The earlier the operation is performed, the less the affected child will be teased. The most important requirement for an ear operation is that the child agrees to the change themselves. Experience has shown that consenting children benefit significantly more from the treatment.
Basically, ear correction can be performed at any age. An individual ear correction can also be carried out for other problems with the ear. For example it corrects ear, if the upper part of the ear protrudes forward. A tear in the auricle could also be corrected. Particularly large earlobes can also be reduced. Even our doctors can restore the partial or total loss of the outer ear.
What is to expect from an Ear Correction?
In general, otopexy can be expected to produce very pleasing results, as a clearly visible problem is eliminated. The shape and size of the auricles can – in terms of dimensions – be significantly improved. A symmetrical, complete match in the appearance of both ears is unnatural and not the aim of the operation. When restoring the ears after serious illness or injury, the outcome of the operation depends on the initial findings. If the ears are defective, a good result can also be achieved with the help of implants with an appropriate concept.
What are the risks of an Ear Correction?
Overall, otopexy is an operation with few complications and a high degree of efficiency and safety. Nevertheless, there are general risks associated with the operation itself and specific complications associated with the nature of the operation. As with any operation, bruising and swelling can occur in the operated area after an otopexy, which usually heals on its own. In individual cases, drainage of the bruise may be necessary.
Infections of the wound area are very rare and can usually be completely healed with a suitable antibiotic therapy. If the ear cartilage is affected by the infection, scarring in the cartilage can occur. Antibiotic therapy is usually successful in such cases as well. In rare cases, however, it may be necessary to treat the infection surgically. A recurrence of the finding, namely an ear sticking out again, cannot be ruled out, so the procedure should be repeated.
What kind of narcosis is used during an Ear correction?
Infections of the wound area are exceedingly rare and can usually be completely healed with a suitable antibiotic therapy. If the ear cartilage is affected by the infection, scarring in the cartilage can occur. Antibiotic therapy is usually successful in such cases as well. In rare cases, however, it may be necessary to treat the infection surgically. A recurrence of the finding, namely an ear sticking out again, cannot be ruled out, so the procedure should be repeated.
Before the operation, an anesthetist clarifies the ability to be anesthetized. The anesthetist is present during the entire operation and controls the anesthesia. With local anesthesia, a sedative is also given (either as a tablet or as an intravenous injection into the arm vein), which induces a kind of twilight sleep. You are awake, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. You may feel a pulling or something similar on the ears.
How does a treatment in the surgery of doctors von Isenburg & Neuhann-Lorenz?
1Personal information
Before any medical treatment, our team provides the patient with comprehensive information about the planned procedure and its risks. It can be helpful for you to write down your questions beforehand. Don’t be afraid to ask anything that interests you. Find out more, if necessary by telephone or at another preliminary meeting, if problems remain.
The declaration of consent documents the name and date of birth of the patient (as well as of the legal guardian if they have not yet reached the age of majority), the type of treatment and all the complications mentioned. Your signature ensures that you have received the appropriate information and that you agree to your treatment or that of your child, with knowledge of the general and special risks.
2 Preparation for treatment
Depending on their age, children can be included in the education before the operation. The explanation of the essential steps before and after the operation as well as the corresponding behavioral tips make it easier for children to cope with the operation.
Adults should be in the best possible overall health condition, especially before a planned operation. Please keep nicotine and alcohol consumption to a minimum. If you take medication regularly, discuss the intake in detail with your surgeon. The use of hormone-containing medication (pill, hormone replacement preparations) may have to be temporarily stopped.
3 Process of Operation
The back of the ear is exposed through a suitable incision (skin incision). The ear cartilage is then changed in shape and applied as required. Permanently durable sutures anchor the ear cartilage firmly in its new position. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove parts of the cartilage in order to get the most natural and appealing-looking auricle.
A variant of the first-mentioned technique works without a long skin incision. The cartilage tension over the cartilage fold is weakened with a special file, without cutting the ear cartilage, through only short skin incisions on the back of the ear. The formation and fixation of the ear with a new cartilage fold is also carried out using durable sutures without additional skin incisions. Other methods are possible depending on requirements, such as building up lost cartilage tissue using implants and moving skin tissue from the area around the ear to replace parts of the skin covering. The ear correction usually leaves a narrow scar behind the ear, which becomes less and less visible over time.
What should be considered after an Ear Correction?
Directly after the surgery
Patients generally feel alert and fit a few hours after the operation. After general anesthesia, however, it may be advisable to have younger children in particular monitored in hospital for one night until all after-effects of the anesthesia have subsided. As a bandage, a large, turban-like head bandage is applied immediately after the operation to protect the ears.
Pain in the auricles after otopexy is not uncommon and usually responds well to appropriate medication. After a week, the head bandage for small children is exchanged for a lighter, elastic head bandage. The bandage should of course be worn exactly as instructed by the doctor (possibly also at night). The skin sutures – if any – are usually removed after a week.
Limitations & Recommendations
Bending and straining the operated auricles should be avoided for one month. Adults can return to normal work a few days after the operation. Children can go back to school after a week. During play and sports lessons there is of course the risk of bruising the ear. Therefore, one should ask the teachers for special attention if necessary.
Care is required when wearing jewelry and glasses. If possible, earrings, especially heavy jewelry, should not be worn in the first month after surgery. For people who wear glasses, it makes sense either to switch to contact lenses or to additionally attach the glasses to the temple with adhesive tape.
Important to consider!
Also reduce your nicotine and alcohol consumption to a minimum postoperatively and avoid going to the sauna and steam bath for a few months! By the end of the second week, you will usually look recovered and relaxed; most patients start working again a week after the procedure.
If you wish, any traces can be covered with a special camouflage make-up. In any case, you should stop aspirin or blood thinning medication at least seven days before the procedure. It is advisable to plan about seven days off after the operation, as you will be physically limited in the first time after the operation.
Can an ear correction be repeated?
In principle, it is possible to repeat an ear correction in almost every case. Regular checks help to identify and treat any complications at an early stage. If problems arise, it can be weighed up on a case-by-case basis which corrective measures are to be taken.
Costs of ear correction
The ear correction is generally used to improve the external appearance, which is why the costs of the operation are usually not covered by health insurance companies. In the case of ear correction due to injuries or illnesses, however, the costs are often wholly or partially covered by health insurance, as is the case with children under 12 years of age, depending on the severity.
Where does the operation take place in Munich?
It is usually possible to carry out the ear correction on an outpatient basis. Outpatient operations can be carried out in our practice in Munich or in one of our clinics. If necessary, the ear correction can also be carried out as part of a short inpatient stay of around one day in the hospital. Then post-operative monitoring by trained medical staff is also guaranteed. If you have any questions about the procedure for an ear correction – do not hesitate to contact us.
Please make an appointment by phone (+49-89-348123) or directly in our online calendar.
