Otoplasty

Plastic surgery on the ear to improve its shape is an otoplasty. A doctor performs an otoplasty on different sized and shaped ears--too large, too small or misshaped. To avoid social stigma, patients undergo otoplasties as young as seven years old. The key technique in otoplasty is to hide any scars behind the ears. In an otoplasty procedure, the surgeon modifies or excises ear skin, soft tissue and cartilage in order to change the shape of the ear. If a patient has one normal, the normal ear serves as the reference point for any otoplasty changes. As with other childhood disorders, a full evaluation is necessary for any child undergoing otoplasty in order to rule out any serious health problems.