Ears Pinned Back | Pinnaplasty & Otoplasty information

It has been estimated that 20-30% children are born with deformation of the ears. Otoplasty (a.k.a Pinnaplasty or getting your ears pinned back) are surgical options, and there’s also the option of incisionless otoplasty- however, there are also other non-surgical approaches.

Ear Buddies are an option for children

The presence of high levels of oestrogen in infants, particularly in the early weeks of infancy makes the external ear or pinna highly malleable. During this period, the deformities can be permanently cured by moulding the ears to the normal shape. This can be done by the simple traditional method of taping, simply with tape or with soft dental compound. This is most effective in correcting prominent protruding ears.

Physicians also use tissue moulding appliances like Ear Well and Ear Buddies. In all these cases, the procedure is of fastening the ears to the head. This must be done for months until the desired effect is produced. However, within six to eight weeks, the extant maternal estrogen in the child’s body gets diminished. The cartilage then hardens and the ears stiffen rendering further ear-taping ineffective. Hence, it is successful only in correcting prominent ears (‘bat ears’). More serious deformations must be corrected by surgical otoplasty to render the shape and proportions of the ears normal. Use of splints and tape may also result in erosion of the tender skin of the child.

Some of the physician made otoplastic devices frequently used are wire core splints, self adhereing foam, dental waxes (usually used for bite-impressions), and custom-made commercial ear splints like the Ear well and Ear Buddy. The Ear Well treatment usually takes six to eight weeks to provide satisfactory results. It provides treatment to deformities like prominent ears, Stahl’s ear deformity, lop ear with a small helix etc.

The Ear Buddy is a device that is fixed to the gully of the ear with adhesive tape. It applies pressure to the ear and thus prevents it from protruding. Since the splits are flexible and can be easily bent or folded, they are capable of shaping the ears to the required size and proportions. A child has to wear the Ear Buddies for twenty four hours a day to get the desired result.

The duration of treatment with a pair of Ear Buddies can last from between a week to four months depending on the age at which the splintage is done. As mentioned before, it provides the best results and takes only two weeks for full recovery if the Ear Buddies are used at the neo-natal stage. During the procedure, the skin of the child is kept dry and cleaned of natural oils and dry skin so that the adhesive maintains the requisite pressure on the ear. Care is also taken so that the adhesive does not stick too tightly to the child and allows the skin to breathe.

Parents who are dissatisfied with the deformed ears of their children and are yet unwilling to subject them to the pain of surgical otoplasty can breathe free with these nonsurgical methods.

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Otoplasty is the clinical procedure of correcting deformities of the external ear. In classical otoplasty, especially in the case of adults, surgery is required to correct deformities. Since the adult ear is not as malleable as that of an infant, traditional methods like taping the ear to the head do not yield results even in correcting protruding ears.

Surgery generally involves an incision and the removal of a sliver of cartilage before suturing the ear into the desired place. However, the trauma associated with incision dissuades a lot of adults from undergoing the simple surgery. Incisionless Otoplasty is a procedure which is done to counteract this trauma.

Michael H. Fritsch, MD, FACS

Incisionless otoplasty was introduced by Dr Michael Fritsch in the mid-1990s. This is a safe procedure involving a few permanent stitches behind the ear. These stitches mould the ear to the correct shape and position. Before the actual operation, the ear cartilage is softened using percutaneous technique. It is an outpatient method performed under the influence of general or local anaesthetics. Due to the avoidance of incisions, post-operative pains are reduced to a large extent.

There’s also less need for follow ups, as  hematoma formation and wound infection are not a potential issue. Different ear-types require different methods of handling. The incisionless procedure is usually recommended if the patient merely desires to change the contour of the ear or if the ear is sufficiently malleable.

The surgical procedure involves piercing the skin of the ear in two or three places, avoiding small blood vessels. It is also seen that the procedure doesn’t create confluent pockets and thus cause hematoma. Sutures are then added, each loop binding the cartilage tight so as to provide the desired bent to the ear.

A measuring ruler is used to confirm the correct repositioning of the ear and the final knots are secured. Then, using a skin hook, the surgeon draws the skin over each individual loop. Ointment is then applied to the punctured skin. During the operation, the surgeon takes care to ascertain that the stitches are as deep under the ear-skin as possible. A slight overcorrection is also preferred so that the ear gets some room to relax without undoing the results of the operation.

Although incisionless otoplasty doesn’t require extensive follow-up, certain customary measures are suggested to prevent infection or inflammation. The patient has to apply ointment over the puncture points for a certain number of days. He/she must also observe necessary water precautions for a week. An oral analgesic might be suggested and the patient might be provided with an overnight dressing of the ear.

However, the long term effects of incisionless otoplasty might not be as lasting as traditional surgery. Since this procedure depends heavily on the sutures to hold back the ear into the required position, the ear might, in certain cases, spring back into its original position. Thus, incisionless demands a follow up of about ten years to maintain the results.

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Having already given brief information on otoplasty, I think the next logical step is to go into more depth on certain aspects of otoplasty/pinnaplasty – the next few series of posts will do this.

It would be irresponsible to ignore the fact that there are indeed risks of having your ears pinned back. There have been instances where otoplasty has gone wrong, and the person has been left with a result which is most undesirable.

The pinna or the external ear is one of the most visible features of the human face. Thus, the slightest deformity can cause a lot of embarrassment in a person. Otoplasty is the surgical or non-surgical process of correcting deformities of the eternal ear. Surgical otoplasty is usually a very safe and quick operation. However, there are certain risks involved in the process.

The ear has a multitude of capillaries but no arteries, hence the possibilities of haemorrhage are extremely rare. Most surgeries involve an incision at the back of the ear and in some cases, the removal of a tiny portion of the ear cartilage. The ear is then sutured to the correct position. As such, there might be a possibility of getting a seroma (a small pocket of liquid under the bruise). This can be easily removed.

More common than a seroma are the other usual side effects of surgery namely bruises and swelling. The effects last for about a week before subsiding on their own. Since these consequences are natural to the body reacting against trauma, there is not much to be feared about bruises or swellings unless they persist beyond a week.

Infections from an otoplastic surgery can be a little serious. Hence, it is necessary to regulate the temperature of a patient recuperating from otoplasty. A fever is the first indicator of infection. If registered immediately, antibiotics may be prescribed by the physician to manage the situation.

Inefficiency of the operation can also lead to over-correction. For example, the ears might be affixed too close to the head; there might be distortion in the contour of the ear, or in certain cases, an asymmetry between the pair of ears. To prevent such errors, it is necessary to ascertain the efficiency of the surgeon handling the otoplastic operation.

In the case of children, another possible problem is the releasing of the sutures. Boisterous physical activities or sudden contact with the treated ear can lead to the loosening of the sutures prematurely. Hence, it is imperative that parents keep their children under close supervision during the healing period. It usually takes six weeks for complete healing during which period patients should monitor their movements carefully.

Patients usually fear the loss of hearing during or after an otoplastic operation. Chances of such complications are very rare and have almost never been reported. However, radical changes in the concha might lead to distortions in the auditory canal leading to hearing problems. As mentioned earlier, the patient willing to undertake an operation must make sure of the capabilities of the surgeon before the operation is performed.

Another concern is about the long term effects of otoplasty. Patients fear that the ears might spring back into the former shape years after the surgery. This is unwarranted as surgeons usually go for a little over-correction allowing the ears some springing space without undoing the results of the operation. Thus, long term effects may also be constraint while taking a decision with respect to otoplasty.

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Otoplasty – known informally as “having your ears pinned back” – is a cosmetic surgery which alters the shape of ears and aims to improve the appearance of ears which stick out or are asymmetric. There are a lot of different terms for the procedure – some of them informal and “slang”, while others are medical. The short list below summarises some of the more common names you might hear.

• Otoplasty
• Pinnaplasty
• Ears pinned back
• Ear surgery
• Ear correction
• Ear reduction

The most common terms are pinnaplasty and otoplasty, but all of them are often use interchangeably. Anyone that is healthy is eligible for otoplasty, regardless of age, although it’s not recommended for children under five years old to have their ears pinned back. Otoplasty can help with the following problems:

• Protruding ears
• Asymmetric ears

Statistically, men are more likely to have these problems, but there are also a great deal of women who have successfully had their ears pinned back. Furthermore, people with an English descent are more likely to require the surgery.

Not everyone who has protruding or asymmetric ears wants to have their ears pinned back, and some people go through their lives not really caring about it. However, for many others, it makes them feel extremely self conscious, especially children who have to put up with name calling or even bullying at school – this is likely to be the reason why the majority of people who have their ears pinned back are children rather than adults.

A person’s ears are generally not something that people notice – they’re usually just “there” – no one really pays much attention to them. However, when they are out of the ordinary,

whether by sticking out, being asymmetrical, etc., then can often be commented on, in some cases, cruelly so.

Children especially will have to put up with insults such as “dumbo”, “flapper” and of course, “big ears”. What’s interesting is that although the ears may stick out, more often than not people with protruding ears have very ordinary sized ears; no larger than usual at all. However, it’s the fact that they stick out which makes them stand out more and give the impression that they are “big”.

There are a lot of famous people with ears that stick out – and some of which have even had the otoplasty surgery carried out, and had their ears pinned back. One particular instance which is well known is English football player Jermaine Pennant, who has played for Arsenal, Liverpool and England Under 21s.

On the other hand, plenty of other famous stars with protruding ears have left them well alone, and have still had fantastic careers in their fields – the obvious name is actor and music star Will Smith, who’s ears have even been referenced in some of his films.

Whether you decide to have the otoplasty surgery is a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be made without serious thought. However, if you do decide to go ahead with having your ears pinned back, make sure you do your research and find out about as many doctors as possible before taking the plunge.

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Getting your ears pinned back is medically known as otoplasty or less commonly pinnaplasty. While there is no medical need for the operation (in most cases), having ears that stick out more than others can be upsetting, especially among children. Indeed, it is most common for children between the ages of five to ten to get their ears pinned back. Under the age of five is not recommended, due to the fact that the ears are still growing.

However, it is better to get the surgery performed in childhood rather than adulthood, due to the harder cartilage found in the ears of adults. The operation also actually feels more painful for adults, due to the nerve endings in the auricle being more developed.

The surgery itself involves reshaping the cartilage of your ear or ears to hold the ears back closer to the head. While there are various methods of performing the operation, the most common operation involves the removal of skin behind the ear. The cartilage is then pinned down with stitches which allows it to bend towards the head, therefore pushing your ears back closer to the head.

The incisions behind the ears are then stitched up and allowed to heal – and that’s it! The entire procedure generally takes less than three hours to complete, and as little as one hour!

The operation itself is very straightforward, and is actually one of the oldest cosmetic surgeries; otoplasty was being performed as early as the 19 century!

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Welcome to EarsPinnedBack.com. The site may be slightly thin on content at the moment, but I’ll posting articles daily on the benefits of pinnaplasty (getting your ears pinned back), and my experience with the surgery.

I’ll also have the answers to common questions that people have about getting their ears pinned back, such as the costs, the recovery time, and so forth.

I had the surgery myself when I was a child, and it turned out great for me. I’m now well into my 20s and am more than happy to tell the world my experiences with the surgery, the recovery, and my life before and after getting my ears pinned back.

I hope that some people out there can find it useful. If you want to read a bit more about my operation, you can take a look at my about page.

So check back soon for more in depth information!

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