The ears are responsible for hearing and balance and are key special senses along with vision, touch, taste, and smell, without which everyday life would be very difficult. Despite a wide variety of ear shapes, the sense of hearing allows us to perceive sounds across a range of frequencies and amplitudes. The sense of balance is another critical function of the ears, and certain ear infections can cause dizziness or vertigo. In winter, many viral infections can affect the ears, causing nausea and other symptoms. Hearing loss becomes a concern if certain conditions are inadequately treated. The appearance of the ears generally bothers most people more than their function, and certain types of ear shapes may lead people to seek corrective surgery to improve their structure.
Protruding ears are a common source of embarrassment, particularly for children, which can lead to teasing at school. Misshapen ears can be related to genetics or two traumatic injuries and may require reconstructive surgery for adequate correction. Although misshapen and protruding ears are not linked with any serious medical condition, they can significantly lose self-confidence for many people. Fortunately, corrective surgery in the form of otoplasty or pinnaplasty is a highly effective solution to reshape the ears and boost self-confidence and emotional well-being.
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What are the different ear shapes?
In common with other facial features such as the nose, the ear comes in a wide variety of different shapes, and all may be considered as a variant of normal. The primary functions of the ears are hearing and balance; when these are intact, the ears can be considered healthy. Certain shapes may cause concern for many people who are unhappy with the appearance of their ears. Common ear shapes typically found in the UK population include:
- Pointy ears
- Square ears
- Broad ears
- Protruding ears
- Earlobes that appear excessively attached to the head and are also known as pixie ears
- Overly large earlobes
When certain ear shapes are prominent, they may disrupt the balance with the overall facial features. Many people with protruding ears are pleased with their appearance and are not concerned about it. King Charles is a well-known public figure with protruding ears. In some cases, people are acutely aware of the appearance of their ears and wish to improve how they look. Children with protruding ears can often be bullied at school, and it may be medically advised to have a corrective otoplasty procedure in childhood to address this.
What are protruding ears?
Of all the different types of ear shapes, protruding ears are the most common that people seek to have corrected. Protruding ears are defined as sticking out from the side of the head by more than 20mm. Most people with protruding ears have them from birth, and traumatic injury is an uncommon cause. Ears that stick out are often because of an abnormal cartilage structure, which may include:
- Antihelical folds that have failed to undergo full maturation
- Extra cartilage found in the conchal bowl
- Both types of cartilage abnormalities may occur in the same ear.
Protruding ears can often be successfully treated without surgery when detected in the early months after childbirth. For babies up to 6 months old, specialised moulded inserts known as ‘Ear Buddies’ may be used to correct a wide variety of misshapen ears without invasive surgery. They are kept in place with tape for up to 8 weeks. After six months of age, the ability to correct abnormal ear shapes with non-invasive techniques becomes less effective, and otoplasty surgery may be necessary. Any surgery is best undertaken once children have reached six years of age, just before they start primary school.
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What is the best way to correct misshapen ears?
A consultation with a specialist otoplasty surgeon is the best approach for people who would like to improve the shape of their ears. Otoplasty, also known as pinnaplasty, is a surgical procedure that alters the size, position, or shape of the ears. The surgery can be carried out on one or both ears. Any corrective ear surgery is usually delayed until children reach the age of six, as by then the ears will have completed full growth and development. Adults of all ages may be suitable for otoplasty surgery to correct misshapen ears.
Otoplasty may be appropriate when the ears are perceived as excessively large relative to the rest of the facial features. Certain types of ear shapes may have an irregular appearance, often from a previous traumatic injury such as a cauliflower ear and may require reconstructive surgery. Otoplasty surgery takes approximately two hours, and any incisions are positioned in the natural skin folds of the ear to minimise the appearance of scars. Having pinnaplasty surgery with a specialist plastic surgeon at Centre for Surgery can ensure you get the best possible results.
Can protruding ears be corrected?
Among the different types of ear shapes, protruding ears are among the most common reasons to seek specialist attention. Children with protruding ears are often teased by other children who may lack the maturity to stop bullying. Adults with protruding ears often lose self-confidence, as they may be conscious of how their ears stick out in the mirror. Many people can disguise the appearance of sticking-out ears with certain hairstyles. However, not everyone will be able to do this, and it is certainly not a permanent solution to getting rid of protruding ears.
Pinnaplasty is ideal for reducing protruding ears in both children and adults. This procedure, also known as otoplasty or ear pinning, may be eligible for NHS treatment, and children may be eligible. The procedure involves pinning back the ears to stop them from sticking out. Specialised moulded inserts may be used for babies up to 6 months of age, eliminating the need for later pinnaplasty surgery. If non-invasive treatment fails, having a pinnaplasty is the best solution to treating protruding ears with permanent results.
Earlobe surgery
Earlobe repair or earlobe reduction is designed to correct torn or enlarged earlobes. Earlobes can be affected by trauma or the ageing process. The appearance of the earlobes can affect the overall appearance of the ears. Genetic factors most commonly determine the size and shape of the earlobes. People who wear heavy earrings may develop stretched or split earlobes requiring surgical correction. The skin begins to lose elasticity with age, resulting in sagging earlobes. Earlobe surgery is highly effective in reshaping the earlobes and is a minor surgical procedure that can be easily performed under local anaesthesia. In some cases of earlobes affected by ageing, it may be possible to inject dermal fillers to plump the earlobes. However, this should be viewed as a temporary solution, and surgical correction is considered a more long-term, permanent option for earlobe correction.
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Corrective ear surgery at Centre for Surgery
Centre for Surgery is a centre of excellence for all types of ear deformity correction, including protruding ears, misshapen ears, and ears affected by traumatic injury. We recommend booking a personal consultation with an ear surgery specialist by calling 0207 993 4849 or completing the contact form below.
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