Deciding to get Otoplasty for Your Child
“Kids can be so cruel.” This is a common sentiment we hear when discussing the ways children relate with each other. However, when a child is bullied it can have implications for a very long time, especially when children have a physical characteristic that makes them an easy target for bullies.
Children with large or misshapen ears are at an increased risk of being bullied while children, and therefore may run a risk of emotional issues later in life. This may be one of the reasons why ear surgery, known in the medical community as otoplasty, is one of the more common cosmetic surgeries performed on children.
Children Respond Best to Otoplasty
Another compelling reason to consider otoplasty for your child is that children tend to heal and recover faster than adults. Therefore, not only can you stop the bullying, but you can set your child up for a better recovery period than if they decide to get the surgery later in life. Surgeons report that the best ages to get otoplasty are between 5 to 10 years old. Since your child will still experience growth during these years. In turn, this growth will help to blend the surgery in with the child’s budding physical characteristics.
Additional Benefits of Otoplasty
Many cosmetic surgeries are very invasive, yet otoplasty is not one of them. During the procedure children are typically put under general anaesthesia by an anaesthetist, and then the surgeon will begin their work. This will include a small incision on the back of the ear that will expose the cartilage. Your surgeon will then expertly sculpt the cartilage in order to give the child the desired aesthetic effect.
Additionally, if the ears are protruding, a couple of stitches can be used inside the ear in order to draw the ear back toward the head and allow it to grow in a more natural position. Once all of this is completed, the surgeon stitches up the small incision and bandages the child so they can recover peacefully.
Otoplasty is a safe and quick procedure that is most effective on children. Not only will the child experience less bullying, but also they will have a better recovery and be able to enjoy their beautiful ears for the rest of their life.
If you have questions about otoplasty surgery make an appointment to see our ear nose and throat specialist.
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