Inheritance or acquisition?
Prominent ears are an overgrowth of the cartilage tissue of the auricle or a violation of the angle of attachment of the cartilage, that is, an anatomical feature. Most often it is a family “trait”. True, there is also a version that protruding ears are formed due to incorrect presentation of the fetus during pregnancy. But it is controversial, many experts disagree with it.
Some parents believe that slight protruding ears can be corrected at an early age by “gluing” the ears to the head with a medical plaster at night... A naive misconception! And unsafe: the patch can cause deformation of the auricle and inflammatory processes on the skin. Without otoplasty - plastic surgery - correction is impossible.
Causes of protruding ears in children
Prominent ears, as a rule, are hereditary, and this defect can manifest itself after several generations. Therefore, do not be surprised why your child’s ears protrude, while you and your loved ones do not have such a defect. Prominent ears can also be caused by improper formation of the auricle in the womb. The appearance of the child’s outer ear is formed during the 10-12th week of the mother’s pregnancy, so the shape of the auricle remains the same throughout life and can change only slightly.
Scalpel and laser
The operation goes like this: a small incision is made from the “underside” of the ear so that there are no visible traces left later. The cartilage is released and trimmed. The operation is performed either with a conventional scalpel or with a laser. The laser allows you to act more accurately and precisely. Another advantage over a traditional scalpel is that the laser beam, cutting the tissue, immediately “seals” the blood vessels, so there is practically no blood loss. The cartilage is fixed in a new place, cosmetic sutures are applied to the skin, and self-absorbable surgical sutures are used. The surface of the wound is treated with special antiseptic ointments and a sterile bandage is applied, and on top is a compression tape, similar to the one worn by tennis players on the court. The operation lasts on average about an hour.
Young patients are given general anesthesia, while adolescents undergo the operation under local anesthesia.
Anatomical structure of the ear
The outer ear, or auricle, is a complex anatomical structure consisting of thin and durable cartilage, which normally has a specific relief structure. On the visible surface, the ear cartilage is covered with thin skin that fits tightly to it.
In general, the anatomy of the external ear is a complex consisting of the auricle and the external auditory canal.
- The outer frame of the auricle is visually represented by the rim of the helix, which begins its formation from the front and bottom.
- And a shank that runs horizontally above the ear canal.
- The curl merges downwards into the so-called tail of the curl and ends with the earlobe.
Normally, the longitudinal axis of the auricle deviates from the vertical line by an average of 20-30 degrees. The upper attachment point of the auricle is located at the level of the outer corner of the eye, the lower - approximately at the level of the tip of the nose. The upper edge of the auricle is at the level of the eyebrows. The average length of an adult ear is 6.5 cm, width - 3.5 cm, and the distance from the helix to the scalp is about 1.8 cm (with protruding ears it can be up to 3.5 cm). The length of the lobe is 1.5-2 cm.
It is worth noting that the shape of the relief of the auricle is strictly individual for each person. With the exception of twins, it is impossible to meet two people with exactly the same shape of the outer ear.
The superficial temporal and posterior auricular arteries provide blood supply to the external ear. Sensory support includes the anterior and posterior branches of the auricular nerve and is supported by the auricular and lesser occipital nerves. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve is responsible for part of the posterior wall of the external auditory canal.
Important
How to prepare for otoplasty?
Before the operation you must do:
>> Clinical blood test with determination of platelet count and clotting time. >> Biochemical blood test. >> Blood test for infections (hepatitis A, C virus, etc.). >> General urine test. >> Electrocardiogram.
And:
>> Consult your pediatrician. >> Bring your baby to surgery on an empty stomach.
Correctors for protruding ears
Nowadays, many correctors are offered to get rid of protruding ears. They all have a similar design and a similar principle of operation. The accessory consists of two transparent silicone parts that are fastened together and are invisible when worn. All brands of products work the same. The slight differences are in the attachment method and wearing comfort. A separate corrector is glued to the skin of the ear with a special hypoallergenic glue, and the other part is glued to the head. When fastened together, the two parts of the corrector give the ear the correct shape, pressing it to the temples. After some time, the cartilage takes on the desired position, and you no longer need to wear a corrector.
Is it possible to correct protruding ears with a corrector?
To achieve the expected result, the corrector must be worn for six months to a year, although some manufacturers promise to make the ears straight in just a month. There is no 100% guarantee that the corrector will get rid of protruding ears. In addition, it is very important to wear the products constantly, and due to the discomfort and/or irritation caused to the skin, many people neglect this rule, which also has a bad effect on the result. You can correct your ears in this way at any age, but the sooner the better.
Point of view
Pro & contra
Marina, mother of 4-year-old Nadya:
– My daughter got my ears: they don’t puff up very much, but we will definitely operate! I suffer terribly because of this defect: I’ve worn the same hairstyle all my life, I’m afraid of the wind accidentally exposing my ears, I can’t wear earrings. But, unfortunately, I can’t have surgery due to my health. But my daughter has no contraindications, I can’t wait until she grows up to the correction, I don’t want to condemn her to the same problems.
Tatiana, mother of 8-year-old Dima:
– My son is teased at school because of his protruding ears. The boy is ready to do anything to get rid of this shortcoming. But my husband is categorically against otoplasty. I don’t know how to convince him yet.
Oleg, father of 7-year-old Igor:
– Prominent ears are not a vice or a defect. She never bothered me in my life, although the guys tried to tease me at school. But I responded with ridicule and sometimes with fists. Nothing, they even respected me. Our son is still worried about his ears, but we are not even thinking about surgery. Let him learn to resist offenders!
Ear correctors: features of use and advantages
How to correct protruding ears using correctors? Such devices have appeared recently, but people are happy to purchase them to hide a natural defect. You should not skimp and use glue or tape, they can cause harm, cause skin irritation or cause allergies.
Invisible silicone correctors are offered by leading pharmaceutical companies. The product is made from safe material that is suitable even for children. If you want to hide protruding ears without surgery, then this method is ideal.
Benefits of ear correctors:
- invisible to people around – transparent silicone does not catch the eye. Therefore, the product can be used by girls and boys with short hair;
- safe glue is used - multi-layer application allows you to use the corrector for a week;
- It is not necessary to take them off when playing sports or swimming in the water.
Of course, the corrector does not eliminate protruding ears. This product masks a flaw. After using silicone for a week, you need to put on a new pair of corrective pads.
Mode of application
Ear correctors are convenient for adults and children to use. Regardless of the manufacturer, they are used the same way:
- It is necessary to wipe the ear and scalp with the solution. Often the liquid is supplied as a kit. Do not use oil-based products. This action allows you to degrease the surface of the skin.
- The hair should be pinned at the top of the head so that it does not get caught under the adhesive base. Before peeling off the protective layer from the silicone, you need to roughly decide on the mounting location.
- The protective layer is first removed from only one side of the lens. The corrector is attached to the back surface of the ear.
- Peeling off the protective layer on the other side. The tip of the ear is pressed against the head - the lock is activated.
The opinion of doctors is only positive. Experts believe that such correctors can even correct protruding ears if used from birth.
Of course, up to six months you can put a cap on your baby; the cap will press down weak cartilage and give the ear the desired shape. After the child turns one year old, silicone lenses can be used. This is an excellent prevention of protruding ears.
Expert commentary
Psychologist Olga Vladimirova:
– Should I correct protruding ears or not? In my opinion, this is a very personal question, and not of the parents, but of the child himself. You cannot categorically impose your position on him. Even if protruding ears caused a lot of problems for a mother, this does not mean that her daughter will have the same problem. If a child is teased by his peers, yes, this can become a psychological problem for him. But try to understand its origins: perhaps protruding ears are only a momentary reason: peers simply see how sharply their friend reacts to teasing, so they pester him. Try to teach your child to respond to ridicule with a smile or a joke. Explain that the offenders will simply not be interested in “getting” him.
Reflections about one's own appearance usually begin in children during adolescence, and not at 6–7 years old. If this happened earlier, it is important to find out in a confidential conversation what exactly is bothering the child. And if it turns out that he is really worried precisely because of his protruding ears, then, of course, this defect needs to be corrected. It's hard to convince your dad, can't find any compelling arguments?
Consult a psychologist, tell us about the situation in the family, the character of your husband - a solution will probably be found.
Correction
Some people are calm about their protruding ears, some even consider it their “trick,” while for others it is a serious psychological problem that leads to profound changes in character and behavior style. However, most people still try to correct this phenomenon or at least hide it. Let's look at the main ways to eliminate protruding ears.
Correction without surgery
As you know, protruding ears in a child are noticeable after birth. The first few weeks of a child’s life are the optimal time to begin correcting this defect. The correction is carried out using a special silicone mold, which fixes the child’s ears in a new position. This is how you can remove protruding ears at home. Although there is, of course, no 100% guarantee, in most cases it is possible to reduce protruding ears. This technique is used until the child reaches 6 months of age, then the cartilage is strengthened and cannot be affected. If time has been lost, then further correction of the ears is carried out using an operation, which is performed after the final stabilization of the auricle at the age of over 8 years.
Other methods of correction without surgery: Otostick ear correctors, Earfold implant, Auri method.
Hairstyle
For those people who are hesitant to undergo surgery, you can try to hide protruding ears with a hairstyle. This is possible with protruding ears of 1-2 degrees. This method is especially suitable for girls who have long hair, you just need to choose the right hairstyle. Among women's haircuts, pay attention to the bob, bob, and graduated haircut. It’s more difficult for boys in this regard, because not all of them grow their hair to their ears.
Another option: you can look at the style of famous public people who have protruding ears - actors, singers, politicians, athletes, because not all of them undergo ear surgery. For example, the well-known Julia Roberts or the no less famous Will Smith are not particularly worried about this cosmetic defect. What can we say, even if James Bond (Daniel Craig) was picked up with protruding ears.
