Ear Reshaping (Otoplasty)

Physical disfigurement is one thing that can lower the self-confidence of a certain person. One example of disfigurement is a protruding ear, which is generally caused by enlarged elements in the ear and an underdeveloped anti-helix. Most often, protruding ears in a child or adult leads to merciless teasing that frequently prevail even to the later part of life. The nicknames Mickey Mouse, Dumbo, or even teasing them about being a car with open doors are just a few of the names that are used to label people with protruding ears.

At school and even in the workplace, people are often harsh and quick to pinpoint defects, thus, making one easily self-conscious about appearance. By the time the person with such a condition is all grown up, he or she has already been submitted to harsh humiliations that can affect their adaptation to crowds or groups.

The history of Otoplasty
Strangely enough, otoplasty first came into existence as a method of punishing crimes in ancient Indian civilizations. The procedures for otoplasty were initially developed by a physician known as Sushruta, who was often credited as the "father of surgery". His techniques then became the founding idea of many procedures for today's surgery procedures.

What does Otoplasty do?
Otoplasty is a form of cosmetic surgery that is made in order to change how one's ears look. The most commonly done otoplasty involves bringing the ears near to one's head, reshaping the cartilage, or reducing big ear sizes. This type of surgery starts with a small cut behind the ears of the patient, on the part where the ears are connected to one's head. After that, the surgeon trims the cartilage, then shapes it to the form that the patient desires, before pinning it back with sutures.

After the procedure, the ears are applied with soft dressings for a number of days. For some patients, such may cause significant discomfort; even disrupting their sleep patterns if they sleep on their side. Some patients are given headbands to help hold down their ears and keep them in proper position for about two weeks.

Who benefits from Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is a recommended from of cosmetic surgery for those who are plagued with unsightly ear deformities, including missing ear, damaged, and even distorted ear elements. As soon as one's ears are fully developed, which often happens when a child reaches the age six, he or she can immediately be scheduled for otoplasty.

However, for most doctors, they recommend the surgery to be taken when one's ears are still pliant and soft for easier reshaping. Parents should help their child to understand and to prepare for the scheduled surgery so that he or she can get a positive outlook regarding the procedure. When the would-be patient is an adolescent or an adult, he or she becomes more critical about the procedure and the result. A successful otoplasty surgery will not only benefit a patient aesthetically, but he or she will gain self-confidence to make friends as well.

On the other hand, there are only minimal risks involved in an otoplasty surgery. The most common one is the thin scar that is often found behind the ears. However, since the scar is located in a natural crease found behind one's ear, the chances of it being seen is almost nil. Should the patient see anything unusual about the ears, it should then be reported immediately to one's surgeon.

Cosmetic surgery, undoubtedly, has many benefits to people who have physical deformities that can cause low self-esteem. Otoplasty is a solution that people accept in order to improve their appearances.