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Adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from cosmetic surgery. Indiana teenagers and even younger children sometimes may need a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure. As an Indiana plastic surgeon, I’ve received training in a variety of procedures, including ear surgery, also known as otoplasty. Ear surgery is often performed for children and young adults who are self-conscious about ears that “stick out” and have been teased at school because of their protruding ear appearance.

This 9-year-old patient came to my Munster cosmetic surgery office in Indiana to correct the appearance of his ears. He is a well-adjusted child but was upset by taunts and teasing from his peers at school. He often would tell his mother that he wished his ears were more “normal” so the ridicule would stop.

Protruding ears are caused by misshapen cartilage. Children and adults with protruding ears may suggest to their Indiana plastic surgeon that their ears are “too large,” but in fact a patient’s ears are typically normal-sized – it is their projection away from the head that is the problem.

I usually do not operate on children until the age of 7 or 8. At this age, a child is better able to understand the surgical process and cooperate fully after surgery. Otoplasty is performed as an outpatient surgery using either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation in some cases. The procedure takes about 2 hours to perform, leaving a concealed incision behind the ear. During otoplasty cosmetic surgery in Indiana, sutures are used to improve the shape and position of the ears, and a small section of cartilage may be removed.

After surgery, this boy’s head was wrapped for 6 days. He was then able to wash his hair and use a headband for protection for a few weeks. Though he’s grown his hair out since the surgery, you can still see his improved ear appearance.