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“Dumbo” or “Mickey Mouse ears” are common taunts for young children to hear that have large, protruding ears. An ear surgery, done after the age of four, will halt the teasing.
Parents should not push children toward this surgery. Instead, they should wait for the child to ask for it; minimizing any fears or doubts the child may develop before, during or after ear surgery. Adults can also have ear surgery.
After surgery, blood clots might form. These clots dissolve naturally or are withdrawn by a needle. Infection of the cartilage can occur, but antibiotics stop the infection. Only occasionally will additional surgery be needed.
It’s an outpatient procedure. Younger children are given general anesthesia while older kids/adults are given a local. The surgery lasts a few hours. The surgeon makes an incision behind the ear. Then he can remove the extra cartilage and sculpt the remainder into a softer ear that bends back toward the head. He will use non-removable stitches inside to keep the shape. Or, he keeps the cartilage intact, suturing it back onto itself for reshaping. Both ears will be done to achieve symmetry.
The head is then wrapped heavily in a bandage keeping the ears tight against the head. In a few days, a lighter bandage is used. Stitches dissolve in one week. Five to seven days of rest is required, with care taken not to bump or bend the ears, then normal activity resumes, this time with no taunts.
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