Our Experience With Otoplasty (Ear Correction Surgery)

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Avery was born with prominent ears. It was actually the first clue there could be something unique about her, genetically. I let doctors wonder about that, but I decided to ignore it because this baby was adorable. Love is blind and all I saw was perfection.

Then one day while we were out shopping, some unruly kids made fun of Avery. They said her ears were hilarious and that she was ugly and looked like a monkey. Nice one, kids. Thanks. Disgusting behaviour aside, their comments made me take a closer look at my sweet beautiful child. Maybe her ears were unusually large and stickie outie?! I honestly hadn’t given it much thought.

I’m somewhat ashamed that I let the opinions of others question my child’s perfection. Because, I can say with all my heart, this kid is perfect. You can listen to what I have to say on the subject of societal constructs around beauty and parents choosing to alter their children’s physical differences in

Episode 20 of the aVERY Bright Life Podcast 🎧.

I ended up taking Avery to a plastic surgeon who tried a non-invasive splinting technique to reshape her ears (she is missing the pinna fold in her ear cartilage). It didn’t work. Her ears continued to protrude and were curved inward like fleshy seashells.

Infant Ear Molding

Several years later we (okay, ME… my husband was not on board initially) decided to investigate ear correction surgery—also called otoplasty or pinnaplasty.

I didn’t care for the first surgeon we met. He was abrupt and his bedside manner was lacking. He didn’t say it directly, but I could tell he didn’t think Avery should have the procedure. He scared me with detailed descriptions of keloid scarring and he went as far as questioning my motives. “Who is this actually for?” he asked me bluntly.

Looking back, I get it. He didn’t think it was necessary. There are some who say parents shouldn’t make decisions about altering their children’s physical appearance. They believe our desire as parents to “fix” physical differences results from us projecting our insecurities onto our kids and usurping their body autonomy. They’re probably right.

I first heard these arguments well after Avery’s otoplasty so, um, too late, but based on the success and simplicity of Avery’s experience, I’m fairly certain I’d do it again.

After the scary scar doctor, I found a new surgeon who was empathetic and professional. We booked the otoplasty.

The night before the surgery I was a mess. I had made this decision. Me. It was against my husband’s judgement and without Avery’s consent because well, she was a little kid. I was holding my daughter’s health in MY hands and the weight of the responsibility was heavy.

Jumping ahead, the surgery was quick and easy and the recovery was a snap. It was a success. Avery’s ears looked great and she healed quickly (minus a small infection at the incision site which required a round of antibiotics). Her sunglasses now stayed in place and she was able to tuck her hair behind her ears. Crucial to a happy life? Probably not. But I was relieved to spare her from being called Dumbo ever again. I know. My issue. There’s a lot to unpack there.

Let’s just leave that for now and here’s the medical stuff.

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Ear correction surgery, where the ears are pinned back, is known as pinnaplasty or otoplasty. It’s a type of cosmetic ear surgery to reshape the ear to improve its structure and function.

Otoplasty is covered by OHIP for patients up to the age of 18 because studies have shown that the procedure can restore confidence in children with unusually prominent ears. Otoplasty is used to change the size or shape of the ears, or to pin them back if they stick out. They don’t actually “pin” them by the way.

A small incision is made behind the ear to expose the cartilage. The cartilage is reshaped and the ear is repositioned closer to the head and secured with stitches to maintain the new shape.

The ear is fully shaped at birth. By age five or six, the ear is adult sized. So, the best age for otoplasty is after the age of five when the ears have stopped growing.

Avery had it done when she was ten. I goofed in the podcast episode and said she was five. I have trouble keeping track of anything that happened prior to six weeks ago. I think we THOUGHT about doing the surgery when she was five but dragged our feet and finally did it when she was ten. Annnnnnnnnnnyway…

The surgery is low risk, but as with all surgeries, there are potential side effects which include:

-Scarring (including keloid scarring).
-Asymmetry in ear placement or overcorrection.
-Changes in skin sensation.
-Possible allergic reactions
-Problems with stitches.
-Infection of the skin and cartilage.

RECOVERY:

Right after the surgery, a bulky dressing covers the ears. One to seven days later, this dressing is replaced with a lighter one. Then the patient needs to wear a wide soft headband that covers the ears completely. The headband provides protection for the ears and keeps them in place, in case they’re accidentally bumped or bent. Most patients need to wear the headband all day and night for the first week or two, and then only at night for about a month. Avery quite enjoyed the headband and opted to wear it well beyond the suggested time frame.

Avery’s recovery was simple. Mind you, this child has a very high tolerance for pain which made it easier. Though in terms of pain, post-op this procedure isn’t very painful and any discomfort can be easily managed with Tylenol.

A decade post-op and we are still quite pleased with the result even though her ears have ‘relaxed’ since the procedure. This means they’ve migrated significantly back to their original position. Not all the way, but quite a bit. And they’ve curved back into Cs. I guess the ears want what the ears want.

Is this surgery necessary? No. Not really. This was cosmetic, in Avery’s case.

Am I glad we did it? Yes, yes I am.

Since her ears have relaxed in the years after the surgery, she is eligible for an additional corrective procedure. Will we do it? No. Avery is older now and can decide for herself. She is happy with her ears just the way they are. And I’m cool with that. This girl will not be “on (that) road again.” 🤣

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