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Ear correction
What are the issues?

Prominent ears affect approximately 4% of the population. In Western society, many regard them as an embarrassing feature. In South East Asia they are regarded as lucky and are rarely corrected. Many parents considering surgery for their children bring them either due to teasing at school or because they fear that teasing or bullying may become an issue.

Often, adults naturally seek help for prominent ears although enquiries can be prompted by specific events, such as a change of job or social circumstances or the onset of thinning hair.

Other forms of misshapen ears are less common than prominent ears. However, individuals may be concerned by a whole variety of ear shapes such as ‘lop’ ears, ‘pointed’ ears, or ears with an extra fold. Many of these irregularities may be corrected using similar techniques as are used for prominent ears.

If you feel your ears are too large, they can simply be measured in length. Normal ear height ranges from 50mm to 75mm with the average being around 67mm. Excessively long ears can be reduced.

If your ear has become suddenly swollen after trauma, then you should attend the emergency department for treatment. Many rugby players and boxers commonly present to a surgeon with hard, thickened ‘cauliflower ears’. This is the result of multiple episodes of trauma that have caused recurrent bleeding under the skin. As a result, the ear gradually becomes thicker and harder. While some sportsmen wear their thickened ears as a badge of honour, help in the form of surgery is available for those who desire refinement.

The most common type of ear trauma we see is split ear lobes. These are invariably due to prolonged wearing of long, heavy dangling earrings. This problem can be corrected fairly simply under a local anaesthetic. Partial or complete ear loss may result from assaults or infection after piercing the cartilaginous part of the ear. Surgical reconstruction of ear loss involves fairly complex surgical procedures. At the Scottish centre for ear reconstructive surgery, we are delighted to be able to offer this service.

 

What are the issues?
What are the options?
Which procedure is right for me?
What are the limitations?
What can the procedure achieve?
What are the risks?
What can i expect afterwards?