In patients with excessively large ears, a slightly different procedure is performed. Ears vary tremendously in size but the average adult male ear is about 2.5 inches long and the average adult female ear is slightly shorter. Children's ears are smaller but not much so as the ears barely grow after age 10 years.
The ears are reduced in length with minimal incisions and are also setback if necessary. The procedure, depending on whether a standard setback otoplasty is performed at the same time, takes about 1 hour per ear.
Otoplasty with ear reduction is a particularly gratifying procedure because many patients are self conscious about their ears and have been told that there is nothing that can be done.
Otoplasty procedures can frequently make a dramatic difference in self-image, transforming a patient from one who is self-conscious and constantly trying to hide his/her ears with hair styles/hats to one who loves his/her appearance and feels free to wear short hair or hair styles that expose the ear.
View answers to frequently asked questions for more information.
Dr. Thorne is the Editor-in-Chief and the author of several chapters in Grabb and Smith's PLASTIC SURGERY, 7th Edition.
Ear Construction Chapter in PDF
