Ears
that stick out
- By the age of 5 or 6 years, our ears are about the size they will be when we are adults
- About 5% of people think their ears stick out too much
- It is normal for the tip of the ear to be up to 2 cm from the scalp
- Older people have bigger ears. The reason could be that as we get older our ears grow by 0.22 mm/year. Or it could be that people with big ears live longer (for some unknown reason)
- In Chinese culture, it is believed that long ears signify nobility (and predict a long life), and thick earlobes predict greater wealth
- A burglar who listened at doors and windows, to see if anyone was at home, was caught by his ear prints left at scenes of his crimes (Daily Telegraph)
- In 1998, a retired company director handed out thousands of large cardboard ears to commuters as they crossed London Bridge into the business area of the City. He filmed the business people wearing the ears, and submitted the film for the contemporary art Turner Prize
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Ears are one of the first parts of the body to reach full size. This is why ears that stick out are particularly noticeable in children.
What can be done in tiny babies
In about two-thirds of cases, sticking-out ears are evident at birth, so can be dealt with straight away. The gristle (cartilage) of a newborn baby is soft, so the ears can be corrected by placing a special small splint of cushioned wire in the hollow of the rim of the ear and taping it back for several weeks (British Medical Journal 2007;334:366–8). This can be done only if the baby is younger than 6 months, and the earlier the better. Parents can buy a kit containing splints with instructions (see useful contacts below).
What can be done in older children and adults
An operation (otoplasty) to correct sticking-out ears is often done when the child is over 5 or 6 years old. However, there is no reason why it cannot be done at any age. The operation does not affect hearing.
Children need a general anaesthetic, but adults can have the operation with just a local anaesthetic. There are several different techniques. In the most common operation, the surgeon cuts away skin and tissue from behind each ear, and stitches it into its new position. The ears are bandaged for about 10 days after the operation, and after that the stitches are removed. You will have to wear a headband at night for the next 2 weeks so that you do not accidentally bend the ears forward during sleep.
As with any plastic surgery operation, it is important to find a plastic surgeon who is skilled at this particular operation. If it is clumsily done, you may end up with a plastered-down look, or with ears that do not look the same. Look at the section on cosmetic surgery [LINK] for general advice.
Useful contacts
Ear Buddies are splints to correct sticking-out ears in babies under 6 months of age. They were invented by a plastic surgeon. The website explains how they work, how to fit them and how to buy them, and has general information about sticking out ears in babies. Tel: 0906 802 0197
www.earbuddies.co.uk
British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) will send you a factsheet on Setting Back Prominent Ears and a list of their members. The factsheet is also available on their website. Write to: BAAPS, Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE (send an sae). Tel: 020 7405 2234.
www.baaps.org.uk
American Academy of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has a leaflet on ‘Understanding Otoplasty - Surgery of the Ear’. The leaflet is also in the procedures section of its website. Write to: 310 S. Henry St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA. Tel: 001 703 299 9291.
www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/otoplasty.html
