For some kids, teasing from their peers is an unfortunate fact of life that they have to deal with. Very often this is due toaminor difference in their physical appearance, such as prominent ears. In some cases dealing with protruding ears becomes so unbearable, that parents turn to Otoplasty for their kids, to avoid teasing.So what is Otoplasty, and how does it help these kids?
About Otoplasty
Otoplasty is corrective ear surgery. It is generally done on children who have ears that stick out excessively, away from their head. The procedure effectively pins back and reshapes the ears, so that they no longer stand out, but are instead closer to the head.
Otoplasty can be performed after a child reaches the age of 5, which is about the time the ears are almost at their adult size. There are various techniques that can be used to carry out the adjustments needed to move the ears closer to the head.
Otoplasty is usually performed in the plastic surgeon’s surgical facility. Surgeons generally make incisions behind the ears, after which cartilage and skin is removed. The amount removed is dependent on the degree of correction that needs to be done.
After surgery, dressings are applied to the ears. These will remain in place for up to 5 days, to ensure adequate protection of the ears during the healing process. Otoplasty is a safe procedure with few risks.
How Otoplasty helps kids
The results of ear surgery are generally very satisfying, and make an enormous amount of difference in the life of these kids. Most of them are no longer relentlessly teased about their appearance. This does a lot to boost their low self-esteem, and so most parents consider it worthwhile to turn to Otoplasty for their kids to avoid teasing.