Asklepion / Your problems / Ears
Ears
,,Bat ears” are principally only a cosmetic problem, the function of hearing is not affected. Problems are due to the psychological stress related to people’s comments about this abnormality. In children there can be significant bullying which causes feelings of inferiority and leads to unnecessary trauma.
The operation, plastic adjustment of the ears is the only way of correcting bat ears. The plastic surgery of ears is widely used in Asklepion for the inherited or post traumatic abnormalities and also deformed ear auricles.
All these operations differ widely. The surgeon has to choose the best method and technique for the individual patient’s requirements. These are the reasons why the experience and skills of the surgeon are very important.
The simplest procedure is the suturing of the ear to the head. The operation lasts only a few minutes and can be performed under the local anesthetic.
In complicated cases the specialist loosens the skin over the back of ears, interrupts the structure of muscles and with a scalpel thins or remodels cartilages and carefully improves the overall look of ears. During the surgery all work is performed behind the ears and resulting scaring is invisible.
The time required for healing and postoperative pain is rather individual. The ears are made of tissues where the healing is not very easy. The procedure requires some cooperation of clients, who have to be gentle with their new ears for a period of at least 2–3 weeks. They should wear a special hair band for about 6 weeks.
It is common to perform surgery on both sides at the same time. There has to be some symmetry and identical angles from the surface of the head on both sides. According to specialists’ opinion the plastic surgery heals better in children because, compared to adults, they have not got adequately developed sensory nervous system.