How Young is Too Young for an Otoplasty?

Question:

I know otoplasty can be performed on children at very young ages, but are there ever instances where you advise against young patients having this surgery?

Answer:

Otoplasty can in fact be performed on young children but, I prefer not to perform otoplasty on any child younger than late 4 or 5 years of age. The ear will have reached full adult size by this time and it is also a good time to perform otoplasty for social reasons if the ears are particularly prominant. Children are beginning school and are also becoming aware of differnnces in the appearance of other children at around that age. Prominant ears are frequently ridiculed. I suppose there are health and social issues I would take into consideration if I chose not to operate on a particular individual, but, that is on a case by case basis.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld