Otoplasty - Protruding Ear Correction

Ears positioned on either side of the head are barely visible from the front. It is their visibility in this position that defines excessively protruding ears.

10% of the population has ears that do not conform to the standard shape or position. A significant non-standard angle between the ear pavilion and the skull is called conchal valgus, and it is this morphological anomaly that creates the "protruding ear" appearance, most often due to a lack of antihelical fold.

In the majority of cases, this is a congenital malformation.

Otoplasty, performed by a Specialist Cosmetic Surgeon, is a safe procedure delivering natural results. Dr Weiss, specialist in facial cosmetic surgery in Paris (Hauts-de-Seine), invites you to discover the answers to the main questions about otoplasty.

Protruding ears can cause a very significant complex, already in the daily life of young children who are traumatised and excluded, the subject of mockery and sometimes bullying from their peers.

Otoplasty can be performed from the age of 7-8 years, when ear cartilage maturation is complete and children become receptive. To operate on a child, the child must formulate the request themselves; Dr Weiss will never operate on a child solely at the parents' request.

This procedure can significantly improve patients' quality of life.

The treatment of protruding ears is called otoplasty, a surgical procedure that reshapes excessively visible ear portions with cartilage folding to reduce the cephalo-chondral angle and pin the ears closer to the skull. The ears will become standardised and will no longer attract attention.

Dr Weiss uses the modified Chen Chet technique which ensures a natural and harmonious result. The procedure involves permanent cartilage remodelling followed by excision of excess skin behind the ear.

The procedure corrects asymmetric ears, curvature defects of certain cartilage portions, and helix valgus (ear protrusion).

It is generally performed bilaterally, but unilateral correction may sometimes be sufficient.

It is very important to apply a specific dressing called a hemi-helmet which stabilises the result, worn for 4-5 days then replaced with a light bandana.

Important
Dr Weiss personally operates on both sides using proven surgical techniques. Hearing is not affected by otoplasty.

The effects of otoplasty are spectacular and stable. This is a permanent change.

• "Ear fold" placement, increasingly abandoned due to several post-operative complications.
• Abstention