 Prominent protruding ears can look unnatural. By three to four years of age children begin to recognize the difference in their ears from that of their peers. However it is not until six to ten years of age that caustic remarks begin to leave psychological scars. Adults with prominent ears may be sensitive about their appearance and exhibit a poor self-image. Outstanding ears (promin auris) affect
approximately 5% percent of Caucasian children. Usually children are born with prominent ears and often it is inherited. Through a minor procedure the ears can be set back to a natural position. There is very little discomfort and children can resume a fairly normal schedule within a week. It is best to undergo the procedure around six years of age or older. At this age the ear has achieved at least 90% of it adult size and children seem to be more compliant with the treatment. Most importantly, the intervention
is early enough to prevent the damaging effects of cruel psychosocial remarks. Incision lines are hidden behind the ears. Adults undergoing this procedure can usually return to work in a couple of days. The benefits of this operation with minimal down time makes it a very rewarding and satisfying surgery.
The best candidates for otoplasty are physically healthy individuals who have realistic expectations and are interested in reducing the size of large ears or setting prominent ears back closer to the head. The procedure is most often performed on children between the ages of six and fourteen but can be performed on older patients. Ear surgery typically takes between two and three hours to complete and may be performed in a hospital, a surgeon's office-based facility or in an outpatient surgical center. Older
children and adults often receive local anesthesia combined with sedation, while younger children typically receive general anesthesia. After ear surgery, some throbbing, aching and numbness can occur which may be controlled with prescription pain medication. Swelling and  redness are also common. Stitches typically dissolve or are removed within a week. Patients are usually able to return to work or school within five to seven days after the procedure,
though more strenuous activities and contact sports should be avoided for one to two months. As with all types of surgery there are potential complications that may occur with otoplasty and these can include the following: blood clots, excessive scarring, infection, mismatched or artificial appearance of the ears and the need for additional surgery.
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