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Cosmetic Ear Surgery: What Can I Expect?
   

Constant teasing and tormenting can be devastating to a child and when that child has some type of physical infirmity, then that compounds the problem even more. Some physical abnormalities cannot be fixed until a child reached adulthood or stops growing. Luckily, those children afflicted with large or projecting ears can have cosmetic ear surgery to correct the problem. Other ear infirmities like extra large ear lobes or shell ear where the cartilage may not have completely finished forming the ear are also cause for cosmetic ear surgery.

So why can children have cosmetic ear surgery performed on them? First of all, the ear stops growing somewhere between the ages of four through six or seven. That means the cartilage that forms the ear is still pliable and easier to manipulate into a more pleasing shape. With an adult undergoing the surgery, the cartilage is stiffer and less flexible. This rigidity means more recoup time. Also, when a child has the surgery when they are young, they do not have to grow up with the taunts and teasing, unlike the adult patients who consult with a surgeon for this cosmetic procedure.

This cosmetic ear surgery can basically remold the ears into a more pleasing shape. It can also reduce the size of the ear so that it works well in proportion to the head. Finally, cosmetic ear surgery also can make the ears more balanced in size and the ears can be pinned back to cause less protrusion. These cosmetic changes in your child’s ears can open up a whole new world for them.

There are a few things to expect with cosmetic ear surgery:

1. There will be some scarring. For the most part, any scarring will be behind the ear. Luckily, these they can be hidden by longer hair. The surgeon will make an incision behind the ear so that the skin can be folded back to expose the cartilage. From there, depending on the ear problem, the surgeon will pin the ears back using some stitches or re-contouring the cartilage for a more symmetrical pleasing shape that best suits the head and facial features.

2. Recovery time depends on the patient and procedure. In all cases, the patient must be very careful not to accidentally bend the ears, bump them or re-injure them in any way. To do so might pull open the permanent sutures that were used to pin the ears back or refashion the ears’ shape. The surgeons will want the patient to wear a head dressing to protect the surgical work on the ears.

3. Understanding the risks is part of what forms the decision to have ear cosmetic surgery. Infection can occur at the incision site. A blood clot can form around the incision area. Perfect prospects for this ear cosmetic surgery include children at least over four years of age and general all-around good health. Adults should not be drug users and also be relatively healthy. The anesthesia used can also play a factor in the risks. Adults typically will get local anesthesia while child get general anesthesia, which makes them go to sleep for a while.

4. How much does the cosmetic ear surgery cost? On average, each ear will cost about $2,500. Of course, it really depends upon the type of procedure that was used to correct any abnormalities. Also, other costs like anesthesiologists or hospital rooms are not factored into the price. And unless the ear abnormality was caused by an accident, this cosmetic ear surgery is not usually covered by insurance.

One of the toughest parts for a child is the recovery. They are, by nature, very active and like to keep busy with sports, playing and other physical activities. It can take up to several months for the sutures to properly heal. That is not to say the kids cannot do any physical activity during that time. They just have to be careful not to bump or strain their ears. Many of them will be on their best behaviors because the outcome of the cosmetic ear surgery. They cannot wait for the bandages to come off and see their new ears, ears that do not stick out or are too large. When the teasing and taunting of classmates dissipates because of this transformation, the kids’ self-esteem and self-confidence soars.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2006

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