Does otoplasty affect my child’s hearing?
No. The shape of the external ear has very little impact on hearing. In general, children with prominent ears have normal hearing and correction of the external ear shape will neither improve nor worsen their hearing.
How is otoplasty done?
Otoplasty can be done by
- incising through the back of the ear and reshaping the cartilage,
- inserting internal stitches through the skin into the ear cartilage to reshape it (also called “percutaneous pinning”),
- Or a combination of the two.
Otoplasty can also involve transplanting cartilage from other places in the body, typically rib cartilage.
Depending on the nature of the deformity, your Plastic Surgery doctor will determine which method will best address your child’s needs.
Otoplasty post op wound care:
Gently wash the ear wounds with mild soap and water and apply over-the-counter antibiotic ointment 3-4 times a day for that first week.
Headbands
Following otoplasty, your child will be required to wear a headband over their ears to protect them as they heal. Headbands can be purchased at most major stores such as Walmart or ordered online through sites like Amazon. They need to be cloth and fit snug. Sports headbands work well.
Your child will wear the headband as follows:
- Wear it 24 hours a day for 6 weeks (may remove for showers).
- Then your child will wear it only at night for 6 more weeks.
