Otoplasty refers to the surgical reshaping of the pinna, or outer ear. The aim may be to correct an irregularity or to improve appearance.
The ears are usually around 2 centimeters from the side of the head. However, having ears more prominent than this can be bothersome.
A person who has sustained damage to their ears or was born with a congenital anomaly may choose to undergo reconstructive surgery. This is a medical procedure to build up or repair the outer ear.
However, some people choose to undergo surgery to improve the appearance of the ears. This is known as otoplasty.
Otoplasty, also referred to as ear pinning, is a plastic surgery that reshapes protruding ears.
Although having prominent ears does not affect hearing, it is considered a major cause of lack of confidence and anxiety, especially in children and young people who get teased by their classmates for having “Mickey Mouse Ears”.
In adults, protruding ears are also a cause of psychological discomfort. Women with prominent ears avoid wearng their hair up while men have a harder time trying to cover this defect. Otoplasty is designed to alter the abnormal shape of the cartilage which is the cause of the prominence.
