Prominent "Bat Ears"
This information is of a general nature only and is for public information and education. Your individual problem needs to be assessed by your family doctor who will advise you on appropriate further steps.
Children often seek treatment for ears that stick out too far from the side of the head. This is quite a common problem, with girls seeking help earlier than boys. The problem causes a lot of grief to children as they are often the focus of a lot of unwanted attention and harassment, the butt of many cruel jokes.
Prominent ears are well corrected by appropriate surgery. A proper analysis of the cause of the prominence is a first step. The ears appear to stick out too far from the side of the head due to the 'concha' (the cup shaped mid portion of the ear) being too large. This needs to made smaller by removal of part of the concha (a reduction) which will then cause the ear to go closer to the side of the head. In some children, this may be all the correction needed. In most, it will be noted that the upper and outer half of the ear (the helical margin) still appears to stick out too far and more correction is needed. This is done by using stitches to roll in that part of the ear into a more appropriate position. In a small group of patients, the earlobe may also need some correction.
A good correction leaves the ears looking natural and in a better position rather then to have a result where the ears look surgically corrected and unnatural. After the surgery, there are a lot of restrictions on sporting activities to protect the repair while healing occurs and a headband is used as well.
Prominent ear correction makes a great difference to patients, restoring self confidence in themselves. The timing of correction is best left till when the child sees the ears as a problem rather than to allay parental concern about future problems.
