The term otoplasty probably sounds strange to most people in Hawaii, but it is not as strange as it may sound. Otoplasty is the surgical reshaping of the outer ear. Otoplasty can be reconstructive or cosmetic. Pinning back prominent ears (what some may call “Dumbo ears”) is one example of how otoplasty is used cosmetically.
There are three main reasons people choose to undergo otoplasty and they are as follows:
- Deformities or Injuries: Otoplasty is one of the few plastic surgery procedures performed regularly on children. Over a quarter of newborns are born with ear deformations in the United States and Hawaii. Some of these babies require otoplasty for correction. Car accidents are a common cause of intense injury to the ear that sometimes requires otoplasty.
- Excessive Ear Angle: When the ear sticks out more than 35 degrees from the head it takes on a rather bold appearance. Many people from Hawaii wait until adulthood to receive cosmetic otoplasty, but some parents who are fed up with their child being picked on at school have opted to give their consent much earlier for an otoplasty.
- An Overabundance/Shortage of Cartilage: If the outer edge of your ear, also referred to as the pinna, has an overabundance of cartilage, it looks very prominent. If there is a shortage of cartilage the ear will not fold properly.
If you think you may be a candidate for otoplasty, call the office of board certified S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS today! S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS will help develop an individualized plan for your otoplasty procedure.
