Otoplasty - Explore What It Means for Your Child

If your child has been the victim of teasing because of their ears, you may want to consider getting him or her otoplasty, or ear surgery. This type of surgery may seem drastic to those that have not been taunted about their ears, but if it’s your child, you want to help stop their suffering. Basically, when getting ear surgery, the doctor will make the ears look more natural in size and shape. This will help the face and ears look more symmetrical. Discover other details about this procedure.

Candidates

A few signs that your child is a candidate for otoplasty is the presence of seemingly abnormally large or protruding ears. Other reasons to get the procedure may include a previous surgery that did not offer the results you wanted or that your child was born with a birth defect that affected his or her ears. Further reasons for candidacy include your kid suffering from bullying due to the appearance of his or her ears. Keep in mind that children should be in good health and at least five years old. This way, the surgeon will know if the child has cartilage strong enough for an operation. If your child is a teenager, they should also be in good health, have positive opinions about getting the surgery and should not smoke.

Consultation

Before performing the operation, the doctor will have a consultation with you and your child. In addition to going through what is to be expected in the procedure, the doctor will assess your child’s health history. You want to be clear about any previous procedures or operations you child has had in the past. In addition, disclose all medications the child is taking, allergies, conditions and more. All of these things will help make sure the procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

Risks

As with any surgery, there is some risk involved when getting otoplasty. For instance, there could be unfavorable results such as imbalances between the size and shape of the two ears. Also, excessive bleeding, blood clots, swelling and scarring can develop. Some kids could even have a negative reaction to anesthesia, so this is something to also keep in mind. Furthermore, your child may complain of long-term pain as a result of this procedure, so all of this should be kept in mind when considering this operation.

Recovery

Everyone’s recovery can vary, but for the most part, pain is common right after the surgery. Fortunately, the doctor can prescribe pain medications to help ease discomfort. Also, sometimes, the incisions can itch, but it’s essential that your child doesn’t disturb the bandages, since they have to stay on to ensure the best results from an otoplasty. If for some reason your child takes the bandages off, an additional surgery may be necessary.

Results

Since the most obvious results of this operation are smaller, less protruding ears, you and your child will be extremely happy. Over time, the ears will continue to heal and no one will know surgery was done, allowing your child to get back to what he or she knows best – having fun being a kid.