Cosmetic Ear Surgery in Children
When kids are young, they can be adorable. But as they get older, sometimes they can be a little bit cruel. Teasing and name calling can occur over the smallest things. In this case, we're talking about the ears. Some kids have ears the stick out from the sides of their head, and while it does seem cute to some, there are some mean kids who are just looking for an excuse to tease such as big ears. That's where a San Antonio plastic surgery center may be able to help. If your child has ears that are very large or that protrude far from the head, one option to look into is ear pinning.
What is ear pinning?
Also referred to as otoplasty or cosmetic ear surgery, ear pinning surgery is performed in order to alter the appearance of the ears. Various surgical techniques can be used to ensure that the ears are well-proportioned and look absolutely natural once the procedure is completed. We are more than happy to perform this surgery on children as needed at our plastic surgery center in San Antonio.
How Ear Pinning is Performed
There are a few ways to go about ear pinning surgery depending on the needs of the patient. If the ears protrude too far from the head, then cartilage scoring may be performed. This surgery involves resculpting, removing, and altering the cartilage within the ear. For cases where the ears are too large, careful removal of skin and cartilage will be the best option.
Ideal Candidates for Ear Pinning
Ideal candidates for this facial plastic surgery procedure can be of any age from childhood into adulthood. These patients will have issues with the appearance of their ears and should not suffer from any serious health issues that would make surgery of any kind potentially dangerous.
How Children Benefit from Ear Pinning
By getting the ears pinned, children will be less subject to teasing and bullying from peers. This can be a real self-esteem boost to a child, especially at early ages. It all really depends on how your child feels about his or her ears, so be sure to talk with your child if they feel self-conscious about their appearance. Sometimes ear pinning or ear reduction surgery may not be the answer to your child's problems, so make sure that you really consider the decision and what it means for you and your entire family.
Other Surgeries for Minors
Generally we do not recommend plastic surgery for minors since they are still growing. Otoplasty is one of the few exceptions. We sometimes perform San Antonio rhinoplasty on minors, but only in specific instances. Generally this means that the surgery is reconstructive in nature, medically necessary (i.e., involves revision of the nasal passages), or the minor is in his or her later teens. We can discuss these sorts of issues about the applicability of surgery in more detail at our practice.
Learn More About Your Aesthetic Enhancement Options
For more information about cosmetic ear surgery and how it can help your child, be sure to contact our San Antonio cosmetic plastic surgery center today. We look forward to discussing this and many other options for aesthetic enhancement in greater detail.
