The question “does the operation cause damage to the sense of hearing” is the most curious question about prominent ear correction. Since prominent ear correction involves the intervention in only the outer part of the ear, causes no problem with hearing.
The pinna completes its development at about 6 years of age. The ideal period recommended for prominent ear correction is the preschool period. It is because the circle of friends, with whom children communicate, gets larger at the schooling age; and this period can be very fragile and vulnerable for children. In this period, children are affected by situations in which they are teased about their ears and are given unkind nicknames etc. Therefore, prominent ear correction is recommended to be performed in preschool period. On the other hand, prominent ear can also be corrected later on at any age.
Prominent ear surgery is performed under general anesthesia in children and under local anesthesia in adults. It is performed with an incision made behind the pinna. The ear cartilages are reshaped with sutures. The operation takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the deformity of the ear. No hospital stay is required after the procedure. The ears remain bandaged for a few days. After the removal of the bandages, a head band worn by tennis players will be helpful to protect the new form of the ears, when worn by the patient for a period of 7 to 10 days. 3 to 5 days after surgery, the patient can go outside and resume his/her daily life, in almost a normal state of health. In the first postoperative days, some swelling may occur in the ear. The swelling gradually subsides within15 days, and the ears get their final shape within a few months.
