Otoplasty is the name given to the surgery performed to correct the appearance of the auricle. In other words, it is the correction of the prominent and highly visible auricle, also known as prominent ear among the public. Ears that are underdeveloped due to congenital or trauma-like reasons, as well as auricles and earlobes that have a distorted aesthetic appearance, can be reshaped thanks to this surgery. Protruding ears often cause both psychological, spiritual and social negativities in childhood. As children grow up and enter social environments such as kindergarten, nursery and school, they may be exposed to negative attitudes and/or verbal violence due to the appearance of their ears. Being ridiculed and excluded in friendships can lead to problems in self-confidence and personality development. Over time, these can cause communication disorders, school failure, and a decrease in self-confidence. There is no specific time for this surgery to be performed, but for these reasons, it is generally accepted that the best time for otoplasty surgery is before school. Adults may also need otoplasty surgery to get rid of this appearance, which can be perceived as a disadvantage in social environments, to gather their hair over their ears and/or to cut it comfortably short. Additionally, otoplasty is a very commonly performed facial plastic surgery.
It is performed by applying local or general anesthesia in accordance with the surgeon’s recommendation, taking into account the patient’s age. Although it varies depending on the level of the problem in the ear, the surgery is usually completed in 45-90 minutes and does not require hospitalization. Depending on the ear structure, surgeon’s technique and preference, the operation can be performed in the front or back of the ear. By performing an aesthetic operation to address the root cause of the problem, the ear cartilages are usually shaped as they should be and the ear is repositioned backwards. At the end of the surgery, special tapes are placed on the ear for 1-2 weeks and then removed. The incisions made during the surgery generally remain behind the ear and there are no scars that may cause aesthetic problems. The surgery does not affect hearing during the recovery period or after recovery, and the person can easily continue his normal life. The recovery process in prominent ear surgery, which is performed quite simply and quickly, takes a maximum of 1-2 weeks. At the end of this process, the prominent ear appearance disappears completely and the person has ears that look natural and as they should be.