I have deafness. How to make sure that the ears do not stick out? Causes and stages of protruding ears: how to correct a congenital anomaly Fix ears without surgery

For a person to whom the word Cheburashka does not resemble a funny children's toy, but an offensive nickname received at school, it is very important to know an honest answer to the question of how to fix protruding ears. Lop-earedness is an outwardly noticeable aesthetic defect in which the auricles of normal shape and size do not adjoin the head, but look protruding. You can argue and argue for a long time that you can get rid of this flaw without surgery, but the truth is that only the skill of a plastic surgeon will give the ears the desired shape. Why is that? Let's figure it out together.

What is deafness?

From the point of view of plastic surgeons, the normal position of the auricle is characterized by:

strictly parallel arrangement of the line of the ear and cheek;
the distance between the edge of the auricle and the skull is about 2 cm;
the angle between the head and the ear is 30°.

With protruding ears, the auricle has a smoothed contour, the angle of its contact with the head is increased, and the antihelix is smoothed.

Why and when does drooling occur?

Protruding ears are a congenital defect that is associated either with unfavorable heredity (in 60% of cases) or with intrauterine development (in 40% of cases). The immediate cause of protruding ears is the abnormal development of the cartilaginous shell of the ear: its hypertrophy (excessive growth) or underdevelopment of the antihelix.

And regardless of whether genes were transferred to a person from a lop-eared great-grandmother or other reasons led to improper ear formation, a cartilage tissue defect is laid during pregnancy (in the third month of fetal development) and is finally formed by the end of the second trimester.

So, a lop-eared person is already born, and as he grows, the deformity may become less or more pronounced (ear formation ends by 6-7 years of age).

Lop-earedness is not such a rare aesthetic defect: according to statistics, 5% of the world's population has protruding ears. Even such celebrities as Rihanna, Beyoncé and Brad Pitt, at one time had to resort to surgical correction of this defect.

Plastic surgeons distinguish 3 degrees of prominence:

I degree: slight protrusion of the ears, which is not immediately noticeable. During instrumental examination, the angle between the auricle and the skull slightly exceeds 30°, and the distance from its edge to the mastoid process is slightly increased.
II degree: a clearly noticeable incorrect position of the ear, while the angle of deviation of the auricle from the skull is less than a straight one.
III degree: the angle between the head and the ear is 90° and there are pronounced signs of prominence.

In addition to the ear-head angle, with protruding ears, the angle between the antihelix part and the plane of the cartilaginous cup of the auricles also increases to almost 180 °.

It is worth noting that not everyone whose ears are only slightly protruding seek medical help. However, if this aesthetic defect causes inconvenience, it is definitely worth considering a visit to a plastic surgeon! And here the exclamation may well sound:

"How! Can't protruding ears be cured without surgery?!”

Unfortunately, you can't. No matter how much they tell you about “miraculous” correctors and “magic” patches, you can “press” protruding ears with a silicone mold only while the baby’s cartilage is very plastic - that is, up to six months of age. And that is far from always, but only with a slight deafness and regular efforts.

But fixing the ears with various plasters and bandages will not only not bring any results, but can lead to even greater deformation of the auricle.

So far, the only guaranteed way to correct protruding ears is surgery to correct one or both ears (aka otoplasty).

Otoplasty is called plastic surgery, during which it is possible to restore the normal angle between the auricle and the bones of the skull, as well as, if necessary, correct other defects in the shape of the ear. To date, there are two main methods of plastic surgery of the ears:

The classic version of the operation with a surgical scalpel;
Laser otoplasty is a less traumatic intervention in which the incision and correction of cartilage tissue are performed using a laser.

Depending on the severity of protruding ears, a plastic surgeon can excise a part of the cartilage tissue, make notches on it, apply tightening sutures, or apply other necessary techniques.

You can learn more about the features of otoplasty in the Operations section, and now we propose to discuss the myths about this surgical intervention.

Otoplasty for protruding ears: Myths and Truth

Myth number 1. It is not necessary to operate with protruding ears

Truth.

Yes, it is not a fatal disease. And if the prominence is slightly expressed, you can do without surgery. In this case, protruding ears will have to be masked with long hair. True, this method is available only to girls. Yes, and sometimes they want to collect their hair in a beautiful bun to show a beautiful neck. This is where not quite “correct” ears become noticeable.

So, the decision on surgical correction of protruding ears is solely the choice of the patient. By the way, otoplasty can be performed at any age! Therefore, there is always time for reflection.

Myth number 2. The earlier the operation is done, the better!

Not true.

Up to 6-7 years, it is not recommended to correct the shape of the auricle. It is finally formed only by this age, after which it is possible to assess the degree of deformation and the amount of intervention. At the same time, if protruding ears are very noticeable, it is not worth delaying otoplasty and waiting for adolescence - it is better to protect the child from psychological trauma in a timely manner due to the ridicule of others. Moreover, 6-7-year-old children easily tolerate the intervention and quickly recover.

Myth #3: Ear surgery is a very painful operation.

Not true.

In fact, this is one of the least traumatic interventions. Otoplasty lasts from 1 to 2 hours, and in most cases it is performed under local anesthesia (general anesthesia may be needed only for the smallest patients).

The pain syndrome in the postoperative period is expressed moderately. Perhaps on the first day you will have to take painkillers 1-2 times, but already on the 2-3rd day the pain will decrease significantly.

Myth number 4. After otoplasty, you will have to walk for a long time with a bandage on your ears.

Not true.

If a patient with protruding ears was operated on under local anesthesia (without general anesthesia), he is discharged home on the same day. And the elastic bandage that fixes the ears after correction can be safely removed on the 5-6th day after the intervention (of course, a plastic surgeon does this!).

Furthermore! We recommend that you think about finding another specialist if the doctor who consults you says that you will have to wear a bandage for almost a month, and even “design” it yourself! The same should be the reaction to the demand for an additional payment for dressings. It is better to run away from such doctors without looking back!

Myth No. 5. After the operation, "protruding ears" may appear again.

Almost true (with a significant caveat!).

This can only happen to an inexperienced specialist. If the correction of the ears was done by a professional, they will never come back “back”. And this is a fact!

Therefore, if you have decided that you or your child still needs to correct protruding ears, take a responsible approach to choosing a plastic surgeon. We hope that the reviews of patients who have already undergone otoplasty will help you with this.

All people on the planet have ears of different shapes, sizes and as individual as fingerprints. Sometimes the ears have an increased angle between the ear and the head and become protruding.

Most often, the problem is hereditary. But, a person needs to learn either to live with such a defect, or to know who to turn to for help to correct the auricle.

- a congenital defect in the structure of the auricle. For a person, this phenomenon is absolutely not dangerous, but the psycho-emotional state can be greatly affected.

When one gets the impression that the people around them simply cannot take their eyes off them, they laugh, unflatteringly comparing them with different animals. Protruding ears become so due to the wrong angle of the auricles to the temporal bone. This is the main sign of a defect.

General information about the auricles

Norm

For information. normally, it should be parallel to the cheek and protrude from the head at an angle of up to 30 degrees, and the distance from the edge of the ear to the bones of the skull under it should be no more than two centimeters.

There are no people with identical auricles. They are all unique with a characteristic size, relief. It's hard to imagine, but each person can be identified by the ears in the same way as by the papillary lines on the fingers.

When ears stick out

There are few reasons for the incorrect position of the ears, and basically they all originate in the intrauterine process of development and the birth of a child.

A baby has protruding ears at birth for several reasons.

genetic

In this case, a gene mutation is to blame, due to which the ears are deformed. It is difficult to track this process, since the mutation does not appear in every generation.

Violation of intrauterine development in the third month of bearing a child

It is during this period that the formation of the auricle in the fetus begins, but the process ends only at the time of birth. When a pregnant woman experiences negative effects on the body, the development of the fetus may be disturbed, which causes bulging or thickening of the ears.

Deformation during childbirth

The mistakes of obstetricians can reward the baby with such an unpleasant defect. It happens with improper pressure on the stomach or a very narrow pelvis of a woman, an unnatural position of the child in the birth canal, drooping ears occur.

Interestingly, after giving birth, about half of the children have protruding ears, regardless of the male or female child. Although, it seems that the defect of protruding ears is more common among boys. But it's not. It's just that women manage to hide their flaw under their hair.

There are situations when the auricles are deformed even after injury in infancy, but in this case, one affected ear usually becomes protruding.

Defect Diagnosis

Signs of protruding ears, it seems, can not be checked, they are on the face, take it and correct it. But, not everything is so simple.

So, how to recognize drooping ears?

The problem can be solved in two ways - surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical solutions can be resorted to when:

absence or smoothness of the antihelix;
overdeveloped cartilage, when the auricle is very thick and voluminous, due to which it looks forward. With a smoothed antihelix, the defect becomes clearer;
protruding lobe, which can spoil the appearance of even normal ears, making them lop-eared. The reason for this manifestation is the hypertrophy of the ear cup and the irregular shape of the antihelix, mainly its tail;
macrotia, which is characterized by large ears. Compared to the head and face, they are huge and almost always protrude. Macrotia occurs even in perfectly healthy people with a very rapid growth of the auricle, with a violation of vascular activity, with congenital malformations.

To diagnose protruding ears and prescribe the necessary treatment, you need to visit an otolaryngologist. When conservative treatment cannot help, then a consultation with a plastic surgeon is necessary, who can create the desired shape of the auricle with a natural angle of departure from the skull.

Definitely, protruding ears are a cosmetic defect and if a person does not experience discomfort, then there is no reason to worry. However, in some cases, it causes poor hearing, increases the risk of inflammatory diseases of the middle and inner ear.

We eliminate protruding ears

How to get rid without surgery

Conservative treatment does not always give a positive result, but plays an important role in the formation of the auricle in children.

It is believed that fixing the auricle of an infant up to six months of age in the correct position will help to avoid protruding ears.

It is in the first six months that cartilage tissue stabilizes. In addition, this is a chance not to face complications in the future.

At home, it makes no sense for an adult to try to correct the defect.

How are the ears fixed?

For these purposes, dressings and special correctors are used.

The bandage is needed to press the ears to the skull. Among the materials, a bandage, a scarf, a cap or a hat can be used. The defect is corrected in this way in infants, when the cartilage is still quite soft and can be corrected.

Interesting! The auricle is formed before school age and before this period has a tendency to deviate or cling to the skull.

Proofreaders of the Russian manufacturer Arilis. According to the instructions, the invention is able to get rid of protruding ears, regardless of the age of the person. The main condition is the duration of wearing the corrector. For example, to get a result in children under the age of 12 months, it is enough to use the device for 3 months. Adults will have to be patient for as much as 2 years to get ears with a normal deflection angle. In this case, the wearing of correctors should be continuous. The price is 1,700 rubles for 10 pieces.
Proofreaders from Spain Otostik. The manufacturer offers two types - for adults and for children, only from three months. The set includes as many as 8 correctors and glue, on which they are glued. According to reviews, children can correct protruding ears in most cases, but adults do not wait for the result. But you can visually remove the defect in this way by gluing the ears to the head with the help of a corrector. The advantage is that with such products you can swim in the pool or the sea. The cost of the corrector is 2,000 rubles for 8 pieces.
Correctors from Dubai Oto-plastic. Issued for adults. One device can be left on the skin for only up to two days. They differ in models for male and female, taking into account the structure of the auricles. The price of the product is 4,200 rubles for 36 pieces.

In general, there are a lot of correctors for protruding ears. Among them are imported and domestic products, in which the principle of operation is only one. The results are basically the same. The difference is only in price and elegant performance. This is of course an important point, especially if you don’t want others to know about such Velcro behind your ears.

Rules for using correctors

To glue the corrector, you need to follow simple steps:

the skin is degreased;
the protective film is removed from the corrector;
one half of the product is glued to the auricle from behind, and the other to the head.

It is important to consider the following points:

correctors should be glued only on dry skin;
it is recommended to carry out the gluing process at room temperature;
after the end of the procedure, you can go outside only after 1 hour;
do not touch the adhesive surface with your hands;
it is important that hair does not get into the place of gluing and there is no skin fold;
the place for gluing the corrector should not change;
reuse of the corrector is unacceptable;
in case of reddening of the skin, the corrector is removed.

Getting rid of protruding ears without surgery is a good idea, but unfortunately, it does not always work. Although, some people use them in certain cases - at an important meeting, performance or photo shoot.

Customer Reviews

According to the experience of using correction methods, the reaction of buyers is ambiguous. One and the same corrector suits someone, someone does not. We can say that correction is not a panacea. Some parents noticed that the ears of the children, on the contrary, protruded even more.

Among adults who used correctors and shared this with others, there were no positive results. And the manufacturers themselves say that it is difficult to achieve complete elimination of protruding ears in adulthood.

Although we must pay tribute to the proofreaders, who managed to allow users to feel comfortable, albeit for a while.

Parents of children with protruding ears rarely decide on a correction, according to statistics. Usually the need appears only by school age, when the child begins to be ashamed of his appearance.

Radical solution to the problem

There is a way to get rid of protruding ears - a surgical operation called otoplasty. It is aimed at correcting the shape of the auricle and the degree of fit to the skull. Operations can be performed on patients over 6 years of age and adults. Until the age of six, the ears continue to form, so surgery is not allowed.

Operation process

Plastic surgery on the ears is a simple manipulation if the surgeon has sufficient qualifications and experience.

The process of otoplasty begins with an examination of the ears, measurement of anthropometric data, determination of a new shape and location. The correction is performed under local anesthesia for adults and under general anesthesia for children.

An incision is made behind the auricle, through which the cartilage tissue is removed and the remaining one is shaped. Outside, a cosmetic suture is performed, which heals quickly, and the place of the scar becomes invisible to prying eyes.

The operation lasts 1 hour and the patient is observed by a doctor for about an hour.

Recovery takes 1 month and during this period you have to walk all the time with a bandage. Today you can find operations in which a laser scalpel is used. The cost of the procedure is about 10% more expensive, but the advantage is that there is practically no risk of complications and traces.

With the help of otoplasty, the patient has a chance to get rid of protruding ears for life. But, if there is an opportunity to avoid surgery, then you should use it, because any surgical intervention is stressful for the body and the risk of complications.

Contraindications for surgery

severe pathologies of internal organs;
blood clotting disorders;
inflammatory processes in the ears;
oncology;
diabetes mellitus;
infections;
increased risk of keloid scarring.

Operation cost

The cost of the operation in Moscow is from 50,000 rubles, in the provinces it is much less - from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles. There is no opportunity to do otoplasty for free, although government agencies are trying to significantly reduce prices compared to private clinics.

Ways to hide protruding ears

Despite the belief of many that lop-earedness is a defect, it sometimes gives a person a certain charm, even makes him charming.

There are many ways to hide protruding ears:

You can switch attention to another part of the face or body - highlight the eyes, lips, decorate the décolleté area or show off a thin waist.
A great option - voluminous hairstyles. Smooth ones are completely incompatible with protruding ears, regardless of whether it is a bun, a ponytail or loose hair. It is recommended to create multi-level haircuts, wear voluminous long hair.
It is recommended not to neglect accessories in the form of hats, scarves, glasses.
You can make a highlight out of a lack, using the example of Hollywood stars with protruding ears and not suffering from it.

Interestingly, people with protruding ears are more talented, energetic and have good hearing. If they find themselves in creativity, they will definitely succeed. Upright ears are an indicator of a person's independence.

It has been noticed that if the left ear is more protruding than the right, then households suffer from too much independence, if the right is larger than the left, partners and colleagues will have a hard time.

Question answer

AT:Which doctor treats protruding ears?

A: Otolaryngologist and plastic surgeon.

Q: Is protruding ear a hereditary disease?

A: Yes, it is a birth defect passed down from generation to generation.

Q: Methods of dealing with protruding ears?

A: Plastic surgery, ear correctors.

Q: Will Velcro help get rid of bulge forever?

A: Yes, if the treatment is given from infancy. An adult needs years for this, but there is no guarantee of success.

Q: How to hide a defect?

A: You can focus on other parts of the body. Choose a voluminous hairstyle, wear accessories.

Q: What famous people are big-eared?

A: Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Emma Watson, Natalie Portman and others.

Lop-earedness manifests itself at an early age, and throughout life gives a person a lot of inconvenience.

This is one of the most obvious aesthetic flaws that immediately catches the eye.

You can get rid of protruding ears in both conservative and operative ways. We will look at them in more detail in this article.

Causes of protruding ears

Lop-eared refers to aesthetic deviations. It can be provoked by some congenital features of the development of the auricle:

Underdevelopment of the antihelix. In this case, only the upper part of the ear is in a protruding position.
Hypertrophic cartilaginous structure of the auricle (when the ears protrude completely).
Earlobe deformity.

Also, one of the reasons may be heredity - when this feature is inherited from generation to generation.

It happens that lop-earedness is pronounced due to the disproportion of the ears to the facial skeleton. Most often this occurs with a vascular anomaly.

Symptoms

From a medical and aesthetic point of view, the ears should fit close to the head, and the line of the auricle should be parallel to the cheek. An otolaryngologist can confirm the presence of protruding ears.

Such a defect is easy to determine on your own. If a problem is found in a child, it is recommended to contact a specialist who will advise the most effective and safe method of solving it.

Sometimes aesthetic pathology is accompanied by hearing loss, acute pain and frequent otitis media.

The doctor prescribes a magnetic resonance examination and a series of tests to rule out chronic or infectious diseases.

Degrees

The choice of a specific method for correcting a defect depends on its severity. There are three stages of pathology:

initial stage(not conspicuous) - protrusion no more than 30⁰ from the head.
Second stage(noticeable immediately) - the ear protrudes, making an acute angle of deviation.
Third stage(pronounced) - the ears stick out at a right angle.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that a seemingly insignificant cosmetic problem at first glance can lead to serious consequences and psychological trauma!

Ways to fix the defect

Elimination of the defect is possible by non-surgical methods or with the help of surgical intervention.

The most common correction technique is the use of ear correctors. A more effective way is plastic surgery (otoplasty) to change the shape, size, and eliminate any deformities of the auricle.

Surgical intervention

Otoplasty is recommended for children of older preschool age (6-7 years), when the auricles are already formed. The operation does not apply to complex procedures and practically does not cause complications.

Indications

Elimination of a defect with the help of surgical intervention is indicated in such cases:

wrong shape;
before the age of seven, it was not possible to correct the shape in a conservative way;
if the angle between the ear and the back of the head increases;
smoothness of the antihelix and the anterior part of the auricle;
asymmetry;
psychological discomfort;
injuries or ruptures of the auditory organ.

Otoplasty can be performed at any stage of the development of protruding ears, both in children and adults.

Contraindications

If you cannot do without otoplasty to fix the problem, you should carefully read the list of contraindications before the procedure.

The operation can not be done with the following diseases and features of the body:

acute or chronic form of diseases of internal organs;
problems with the thyroid gland and blood clotting;
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus;
tendency to allergic reactions;
any tumors;
wounds or irritations in the potentially operated area;
inflammatory processes of the auricle and jaw, otitis media;

Some contraindications are relative, which allows the procedure to be performed after the obstructing symptoms have been eliminated.

In the video, see how plastic surgery of the auricles is performed.

Preparing for the operation

If the patient is taking any medications, this should be reported to the doctor who will perform the operation.

It is strictly forbidden to take Aspirin, Citramon, Pentalgin and other drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid before surgery, because the substance helps to thin the blood, and during the operation the risk of bleeding increases.

Two days before otoplasty, it is not recommended to use cosmetics that can get into the ears. For a few weeks, you should stop smoking and drinking alcohol. On the day of surgery, you should eat light meals and limit fluid intake.

A few days before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient, measures the parameters of each organ separately, prescribes tests:

general and biochemical blood test;
general urine analysis;
fluorography and ECG.

It is necessary to first agree with the specialist on the future shape of the organs. It is also important to discuss the optimal angle of departure of the auricle from the back of the head. It is possible to simulate and see the result of otoplasty on a computer.

Shift back method

This is the classic form correction method. With this technique, the specialist performs the following manipulations:

After sterile treatment of the operated area, an incision (no more than 2 cm) is made on the back wall of the organ, and a skin area is excised.
The cartilage is partially removed or shaped so that the shell has an aesthetic appearance.
Small stitches (no more than 3 mm) are applied behind the ear using special needles of different calibers.
Sterile medical napkins are applied to the operated area, a bandage is put on and cold is applied.

It is the seams that maintain the necessary shape of the auricle.

The operation lasts from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the amount of work. General anesthesia is used in rare cases, most often a local anesthetic is used.

Method for correcting deformities of the antihelix

This technique can be performed by suturing to artificially restore the antihelix or by modifying the cartilage.

It is possible to combine these two technologies.

Suture technique

The suture technique involves making an incision on the back of the cartilage. After its thinning, several sutures are applied, which form a fold of the antihelix.

When suturing, the anterior wall of the organ is not affected. Horizontal seams should be close together to avoid shirring.

It is important to strictly observe the technology of suturing. The slightest mistake will lead to deformation of the cartilage and the upper part of the ear.

Seamless technique

When cartilage is corrugated, permanent sutures are not applied, which eliminates the possibility of rejection of a foreign body.

This procedure consists in making an incision behind the organ and injecting. As a result, the cartilage splits, and the edges of the antihelix take the correct position.

Laser technique

Laser otoplasty is performed using the same technology as the classical operation. But the advantages of the laser technique are that the incisions are made more accurately and the patient practically does not feel pain during the procedure. The duration of laser otoplasty is 20-30 minutes.

The laser scalpel has coagulating properties, so there is no bleeding during the operation.

The doctor fixes the cartilage in the desired position and sutures it in the same way as in the classical method of otoplasty.

Rehabilitation

As a rule, the recovery period does not last long. If you follow certain rules of behavior after the operation, there will be no unpleasant consequences.

Otoplasty does not involve the patient being in a hospital. A few hours after the operation, the patient goes home.

Only in the case of general anesthesia, a stay in the clinic is required throughout the day. The stitches are usually removed after 10-14 days. The final results can be assessed six months after the operation.

A sterile dressing must be worn for six days, and put on for another month before going to bed.
Two weeks after the procedure, you can not wash your hair and take a bath.
Up to two months, large physical exertion is prohibited.
You should avoid going to the sauna, swimming pool, prolonged exposure to the sun.

Possible Complications

During surgery, only the skin and ear cartilage are affected. Therefore, serious complications after the procedure are extremely rare.

A few days after the correction, the patient may feel discomfort and moderate pain in the operated area.

Edema and hematomas may appear at the incision sites (but not in the case of laser otoplasty). Sometimes there is a slight numbness of the shell.

These postoperative effects disappear after 1-2 weeks. Painkillers can be taken to relieve unpleasant symptoms.

More serious complications are of the following nature:

allergic manifestations (may occur after the use of a local anesthetic);
the formation of blood clots;
inflammation of the ear cartilage, which leads to the formation of keloid scars;
tissue necrosis;
extensive hematoma, which can lead to ear deformity.

If the operation was performed by a professional surgeon, serious complications and the return of protruding ears are impossible!

Alternative Correction

Doctors differently estimate the age until which you can get rid of protruding ears without surgery. Some believe that non-surgical methods are effective only in the first six months of a child's life.

Other doctors suggest that up to seven years there is a high probability of effective correction of the form without surgery. There are cases when all signs of pathology disappear as the bones of the skull grow older and grow.

The most effective non-surgical method is the use of silicone correctors. Modern manufacturers have developed proofreaders for children, women and men of any age. Although doctors question the effectiveness of devices for adults.

Silicone molds are applied to dry, clean skin. They need to be fixed on a certain part of the ear and not change the location in the future.

In general, correctors from different manufacturers are recommended from birth or from the age of three months.

In young children, a positive result is noticeable, after 3-6 months of wear, older children will need to wear correctors for about two years to achieve the desired effect.

Price

The cost of otoplasty largely depends on the prestige of the clinic, the region, the professionalism of the doctor, the technique used, the materials and the quality of the equipment.

In the provinces, the price of such a service is much lower than its cost in large cities. Also, in public clinics, otoplasty is performed at affordable prices.

The most expensive technique is laser otoplasty. The average price is from 50 to 80 thousand rubles. A classic operation costs an average of 30 to 45 thousand rubles. In provincial cities, the price of the service starts from 15 thousand rubles.

If the operation was unsuccessful, re-correction is usually also paid. You should discuss the possibility of this situation with your doctor in advance.

You can learn about how laser otoplasty is performed from the video.

- a congenital anatomical feature due to an increase in the angle of separation of the auricle, which is why the ears have a protruding appearance. With protruding ears, the size and shape of the auricles are usually within the normal range, and they are located not parallel to the temporal bone, but at an angle close to a right one. Signs of protruding ears are an increase in the angle of attachment of the auricle to the occipital part of the head, smoothness of the contour of the auricle and antihelix. Such an aesthetic defect often causes the formation of psychological complexes and isolation. Prominent ears are corrected by plastic surgeons using traditional or laser otoplasty.

General information

From a medical point of view, protruding ears are considered a severe congenital deformity of the auricle, giving the ears a protruding, protruding appearance. Almost 50% of people are born with protruding ears of varying severity, of which boys and girls are approximately in equal numbers. Since it is easier for girls to hide protruding ears behind long hair, it seems that boys suffer from this defect much more often. It is in children and adolescents that protruding ears cause a lot of emotional experiences, forming a “protruding ear complex”, which in adulthood can adversely affect a person’s character and psyche.

Already in the third month of pregnancy, the formation and growth of the outer ear begins in the fetus. In the sixth month, the internal folds and relief of the auricle develop. Such a deformity as protruding ears is clearly visible already at birth, it is during this period that it is still possible to change the shape of the child's ears without resorting to surgical intervention. If deformed or protruding ears are fixed in a newborn, they can take on a different shape or position. If the deformed ear has not been given a new position before the age of six months, then the cartilage will stabilize, and it will no longer be possible to do without surgical correction.

It is believed that normally the ear shell and the head should form an angle equal to 30 °, while the line of the auricle should be strictly parallel to the cheek, and the distance between the edge of the ear and the bones of the skull should be about two centimeters. The contours of the relief of the ear shell, its configuration and clarity are as individual and unique as the pattern on the fingertips.

The deformity may affect one or both ears. The type and degree of deformity in protruding ears are extremely diverse, which excludes the existence of a single medical tactic to correct this defect.

Causes of protruding ears

The correct determination of the position of the protruding ear is an important point for planning its correction. Lop-earedness can be caused by one or more congenital features of the development of the auricle.

Most often, protruding ears are the result of underdevelopment, smoothness of the antihelix - an elevation on the inside of the auricle, located parallel to the curl. The smoothness of the antihelix can be manifested by its complete absence or partial lack of expression, when only the upper pole of the auricle is in the protruding position.

The hypertrophied cartilaginous structure of the auricle can lead to excessive protrusion of the ear. It is known that more flattened cartilage complexes of the helix and antihelix are usually located on the strong cartilage of the outer ear, and its increase leads to the protrusion of the entire auricle.

In a normally located ear, the only deformity sometimes occurs is a protrusion of the lobe, the cause of which is hypertrophy of the ear shell or an unusual shape of the tail of the curl.

Lop-earedness can be observed with a uniform increase in the entire auricle (macrotia). The dimensions of a "normal" ear are highly variable, but sometimes they are disproportionate to the facial skeleton. Such variants of protruding ears are observed with isolated congenital excessively rapid ear growth or with faster growth of one of the halves of the face. Macrotia is sometimes found in Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis or a vascular abnormality.

Basic principles of aesthetic correction of protruding ears

Many children are born with protruding ears, but this does not mean that the ears will remain sticking out for life. With age, as the bones of the skull increase, protruding ears may become less noticeable. The operation is possible not earlier than 6-8 years of age, if there is a medical opinion that the child suffers from severe protruding ears. Early correction of protruding ears allows you to save the child from psychological discomfort and the formation of complexes.

By the time a child reaches this age of 6-8 years, his auricles are 90% formed. For adult patients, aesthetic correction of the ears is carried out without age restrictions.

Surgical correction of protruding ears is quite common, and although the operation itself is technically simple, the approach to each patient is chosen individually.

Plastic correction of the auricles, aimed at changing their shape, position and size, is called otoplasty in plastic surgery (from the Greek "othos" - ear). Surgical correction of protruding ears is an aesthetic operation, as it is aimed at correcting a defect that does not pose a threat to the health and life of the patient. However, this does not detract from the importance of this operation for the quality of human life. If the patient decided to resort to the help of a plastic surgeon, then his internal problems are not so unimportant.

Prominent ear otoplasty

Prominent ears are eliminated by otoplasty (or otoplasty). During it, the position is corrected or the defect of the auricles of a congenital or post-traumatic nature is eliminated. Despite the fact that otoplasty is not one of the complex plastic surgeries, it requires precision, high qualification and practical skills of the surgeon.

The new shape and location of the cartilage is determined by the surgeon in advance, taking into account the anthropometric data of the patient. Under local or general anesthesia, an incision is made behind the crease of the auricle. The cartilage is then shaped to fit the ear close to the head. Simultaneously with otoplasty, it is possible to carry out combined plastic surgery of the earlobe. The operation usually takes 30 to 60 minutes and is easily tolerated by patients. Special rollers are applied to the ears to support the new position of the cartilage, a fixing bandage or bandage is placed on top, which will have to be worn for one month.

In addition to classical otoplasty performed with a surgical scalpel, the method of laser otoplasty with a laser scalpel is used, which allows modeling the ear cartilage without leaving marks.

Otoplasty saves patients not only from protruding ears, but also from complexes, stereotypes of behavior developed over many years. Many patients become more open, sociable, friendly and successful after gaining a new ear shape.

The outer ear begins to form as early as 3 months of intrauterine development, after the same period of time, the auricle is formed. Therefore, protruding ears can be replaced already in the first days of the baby's birth.

The easiest way to correct the problem is in the first 6 months of life. For this, various fixation methods are used. In the future, the cartilage becomes stronger, so it is more difficult to correct the situation.

protruding ears

In medicine, it is believed that the shell should be located at an angle of 30 degrees to the head, and the line of the auricle should be parallel to the cheek. Increasing the angle more than 30 degrees is called protruding ears.

This phenomenon is common. Half of the people have at least the initial stage of pathology. The problem occurs equally in the male and female population. In men, protruding ears are more noticeable only because of the short hairstyle. Deformation can affect both one ear and two at once.

Definition of protruding ears

Epidemiology, causes

The appearance of the problem is often associated with heredity. In humans, the “protruding ear gene” dominates the gene for normal ears. Therefore, the risk of developing a defect in offspring is 50%. If the parents have normal ears, and the grandparents had problems of this nature, then the risk of developing such a feature is reduced.

Lop-earedness may also indicate that during fetal development. The reason is the hypertrophied cartilaginous structure. The problem can also be observed with an increase in the entire auricle.

The sizes can be different, but sometimes they are disproportionate in relation to the entire facial skeleton. This problem occurs when the ear grows too fast or when one half of the face changes intensively.

Thus, the causes of drooping ears are:

incorrect shape of the end of the curl,
macrotia,
altered cartilage structure,
congenital characteristics,
improper development of the antihelix.

About the causes of protruding ears in our video:

Types, stages

Prominent ears are classified by stages:

First. The angle of the ears with the head is 31-44 degrees. The defect is not visible. Elimination of deficiencies occurs due to the elimination of excess cartilage tissue at the site of deepening of the shell.
Second. The angle is 45 degrees. Pathology is noticeable immediately. The deflection angle is sharp, but closer to a straight line.
Third. The angle is 90 degrees. In this case, the use of complex techniques to fix the problem is required.

Diagnostics

The presence of a problem is obvious to the patient himself. Determine the degree or type of deformation according to the forces of the otolaryngologist. If there is no pain, then there is no need for special research methods. If discomfort in the ears also appears, then in addition to taking an anamnesis, the doctor may prescribe diagnostic measures:

Laboratory research. They are performed before surgery, as well as to determine the cause. Symptoms may be the result of a chronic disease or.
Instrumental methods. These include, x-ray of the sink, otoscopy.

Sometimes protruding ears are one of the signs of a serious pathology. For example, von Recklinghausen syndrome. Girls sometimes develop Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome. Differential diagnostic measures are used to exclude these pathologies.

Is it possible to fix protruding ears without surgery, see our video:

Signs in children

In children, as already noted, the problem can be noticed at birth. In addition, the problem may arise due to the incorrect position of the fetus. But this theory is controversial.

The stages of lop-earedness are determined in the same way as in adults. With classical methods, the problem can be dealt with from an early age. Operations are appointed only after 6 years. Ears protruding at the wrong angle are the main sign of protruding ears in children. Correcting the problem with otoplasty is worth it, because in the future it can lead to the development of complexes.

How to get rid without surgery?

In the first six months of a newborn's life, special silicone molds can be used. At an older age, this method is not used, since it can lead to deformation of the cartilage.

There are several types of correctors:

Ear bandages. An ordinary cap or hat for newborns can correct a slight protruding ear. Sometimes it is recommended to use a bandage or a scarf. These methods are also good for preventive purposes.
Alilis proofreaders. Helpful if used regularly. In children, the result becomes noticeable after 3 months. Adult correctors should be used for at least 24 months.
Correctors Otostik. Produced in different shapes and sizes. Such a device repeats the shape of the auricle and is attached to the scalp using a special adhesive.

Correctors work pretty much the same way. For adults, they differ not only in size. There are different types for men and women. When changing the corrector, it is not recommended to change the place of gluing.

Special Velcro are also used. They allow you to "fix" the ears in the correct position. They are quite tightly attached to the skin, so it is important to ensure that the skin does not sweat under them.

Velcro can be used once, for example, before an important meeting or on an ongoing basis. Stickers work the same way. It is important not to place such objects at the junction that connects the ear to the head.

The photo shows the result of wearing correctors

How to hide?

The easiest way for women is to change their hairstyle. Do not use adhesive tape and plaster for these purposes. Otherwise, it will occur. When choosing a hairstyle, use a look based on the extension from the crown to the ears. The length of the haircut does not matter. If you like short hair, then semi-long asymmetry will do.

Among the accessories, headbands and bandanas are very popular. They can be worn at any time of the year. Any noticeable thing on the neckline will divert attention from your ears.

For men, ear correctors will help to cope with the problem, which can be used only as needed. You can pick up accessories that simply distract attention from your organ of hearing.

A simple hairstyle to help hide protruding ears:

Forecast

It is better to start treatment as soon as the problem is discovered. Many are interested in whether it is possible to completely get rid of protruding ears without surgery. If you find a suitable method for the baby in the first months of life, then it is quite easy to cope with the situation. For older children, it is only possible to slightly correct the angle of the ear to the head.