Correcting Protruding Ears with Surgery

Imperfections, minor facial deformities, and visible lesions are a source of discomfort, psychological complexes, and general unease for many people.

One of the most common examples of such an obvious yet trivial, yet equally bothersome, physical flaw is undoubtedly protruding ears.

Several methods exist to address this and similar ear defects, ranging from special patches to actual surgery. For those opting for surgery to correct ear flaws and imperfections, otoplasty offers numerous options.

Understanding Otoplasty with Earfold

What does otoplasty correct?

Otoplasty encompasses all specific surgical operations

aiming to resolve issues such as:

• Lop ears,
• Congenital deformities of the lobes or those caused by trauma and injuries,
• Ears that are too large or too small,
• Asymmetrical cartilage folds…

Otoplasty techniques are often the most effective and long-lasting solution for correcting imperfections caused by lop ears, a problem affecting the majority of patients with ear deformities.

Otoplasty options range in invasiveness, but recently, a viable alternative has become widespread in Italy: otoplasty with Earfold.

Otoplasty with Earfold

This revolutionary method offers a minimally invasive solution, rapid rehabilitation times, and significant cost advantages. Otoplasty with Earfold is a quick, minimally invasive procedure using a leading instrument in the aesthetics sector. To eliminate the recurring and bothersome problem of protruding ears, this practical operation essentially involves inserting an Earfold, a nitinol clip, subcutaneously.

The Earfold is a small instrument made of an alloy called "nitinol," composed of titanium, nickel, and gold, inserted through a small incision in the ear to be corrected.

Thanks to simple and painless local anesthesia, it will be possible, in 5 to 20 minutes maximum, to place the clip and reduce the ear deformity by up to 37% immediately after the operation. The 24-karat gold in the Earfold clip is biocompatible and therefore absolutely safe and tested. The nitinol clip creates a new antihelix fold in cases of complete antihelix absence or augments it if initially deficient.

Risks of Otoplasty with Earfold

As a novel, quick, and less invasive technique than others, Earfold otoplasty presents minimal risks. This is evident in the procedure itself: a simple incision and an operation lasting no more than 20 minutes. The ability to pre-assess the results is a major advantage.

However, there's a risk of indiscriminate use. Earfold surgery is suitable only for a limited number of patients. A basic patient selection must be done, excluding those suffering not from antihelix deficiency, but from other complications. This means only about 40% of individuals with protruding ears are suitable candidates for this procedure.

The nitinol clip is easily removable. It can be removed for patients who don't adapt to the subcutaneous implant or experience rare postoperative complications. However, ear otoplasty may be contraindicated for those with a particular metal allergy, such as nickel, which, despite careful processing, could cause harmful irritation in highly sensitive individuals.

Postoperative Period for Otoplasty with Earfold

The postoperative period after Earfold otoplasty requires careful attention to avoid impacts on the clip area and the ear in general. Significant impacts could damage the newly inserted ear fold or cause intense pain due to the initial postoperative rigidity of the ear.

Earfold avoids the lengthy hospital stay required for other, more conventional operations like traditional otoplasty or laser surgery, which often involve long periods wearing bulky, turban-like bandages.

Unlike modern no-incision operations with at most small subcutaneous sutures, traditional otoplasty recovery is longer and more painful, due to more extensive anesthesia and longer operation times (often exceeding two hours).

Appropriate Age for Earfold Otoplasty

Earfold otoplasty is most effective for children aged seven and older. Due to the still-developing ear structure, it's easier to insert the subcutaneous implant and allow it to reshape the deformity over time.

Early childhood surgery avoids the discomfort and psychological damage that ear deformities can cause to a child's self-esteem during sensitive developmental stages.

Children are advised to abstain from school for at least two weeks post-operation and avoid sports like swimming or football for about ten weeks. Any postoperative redness or swelling can be easily managed with simple anti-inflammatory medications.