Protruding ears are relatively common amongst children. Ears that stick out might cause children to become shy and withdrawn around other people. Some children might even experience bullying at school. The condition could cause children to resent going to school, and may indirectly cause them to perform poorly in their studies.
This is a guide to ear pinning in Perth and everything that the procedure involves, including preparation and correct aftercare.
Preparation
Consulting a range of different surgeons is a good idea. This will allow people to weigh up which practitioner is most qualified to carry out surgery on their child. The surgeon should tell the parent’s everything that the surgery involves, such as taking cartilage from the ears in order to move both ears closer to the head.
This surgery cannot be performed on children under the age of five because their ears are still in the development phase.
During Surgery
Surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure. Markings are made on the ears to determine where the incisions will be made. The incisions are only small cuts, so the surgeon will be careful not to damage any part of the ear. After the ears have been opened, the cartilage can be removed. The removal of the cartilage will allow the surgeon to then position the ears closer to the head, preventing them from sticking outwards as much as they did so before the operation.
The ears will be sown up once they have been pulled into the correct position. A local anaesthetic is used during the operation, which shouldn’t take much more than two hours to complete. Research ear pinning by Dr Peter Randle
Aftercare
There are several steps which need to be taken after surgery to make sure that there are no complications from the procedure.
A bandage will be applied to the patient’s head in order to keep the ears in the correct position. This bandage shouldn’t be wrapped too tightly, otherwise, the child could be in considerable discomfort. The patient needs to be prevented from tampering with the bandages or scratching their head. Interfering with the bandages could cause the ears to become dislodged from their position.
Contact sports such as soccer or rugby should be avoided in order to prevent the ears from becoming damaged. Heading a ball or being tackled could cause an injury.
Scarring from the surgery is minimal because the marks will be hidden by natural folds in the skin. Pain and discomfort might occur for the first few days but should disappear completely after that. Consult the surgeon again if there are complications. A checkup will be performed some time after the surgery to make sure that everything is OK.
Hopefully, this guide has made the ear-pinning surgery clear for anyone who is planning it for their children. Remember, it is a good idea to shop around and compare surgeons before making a final decision.
