Ear Correction

Cosmetic ear correction, also known as otoplasty, is a procedure that can change the shape, proportions or size of your ears. For example, you might choose otoplasty if you are unhappy with how far your ears stick out from the side of your head. People with birth defects or injuries (for example, due to wearing overly large piercings) may also benefit from otoplasty.

Otoplastists utilize a variety of methods to manipulate the shape, size or proportion of the ear. If possible, the surgeon usually always chooses the treatment method that is the least invasive. In practice, this is often the so-called thread method.

Setback otoplasty or ear pinning is often performed on children. This procedure is also possible in adults, but if it is done earlier in life, it is possible to avoid that the children's self-confidence suffers. The surgery can be performed anytime after the ears reach their maximum size, usually at the age of five to six years.

During the procedure, the incision is made on the back of the ear. The ears are fixed with firm sutures. During the application, if necessary, the cartilage can also be reshaped to correct problems such as malformed, mismatched or large ears.

The recovery process after the ears are put on usually takes one to two weeks. Swelling and bruising may occur and usually subside within the first few weeks after the procedure. Patients are advised to avoid particularly strenuous physical activity for the first 3 weeks after the procedure. It may take some time (often up to a week) for your ears to heal enough for the results to be visible.

Even if you do not have protruding ears, otoplasty can often improve the appearance of your ears and enhance the natural proportions of your ears and face. Often, small changes can have a great impact on the self-esteem of those affected. There are men who are ashamed of their odd-looking ears and therefore almost always wear a cap. Likewise, women with certain unsightly ears often have inhibitions about putting their hair up.

There are people with torn earlobes or too large ear holes. This can have many causes:

• The earrings were too heavy

• The holes were pierced too deeply

• The earrings caught onto something

• Torn tunnel piercings

Those affected feel aesthetically disfigured as a result. In addition, compared to other deformities of the ear, there is no good way to conceal an unsightly earlobe. This problem can be reconstructed aesthetically in a relatively uncomplicated way. It is a small, outpatient procedure that usually takes no more than an hour and a half. The patient is given a local anesthetic. After the procedure, the treated earlobe is taped and stabilized with a discreet plaster. After about a week, the stitches are removed. The wound should heal in about 2 to 3 weeks. The piercing of a new ear hole should be avoided for the first 6 months after the surgery.

In principle, people whose ears are already fully grown are suitable for this. As a rule, this is the case with children from 5-6 years of age. People who have the following characteristics can be good candidates for ear correction:

• No untreated ear infections

• Realistic expectations of the treatment outcome

• A good general state of health

• Are affected by any of the following problems:

  • Bigger than average or small ears. Ears that stick out on the sides of the head

  • Ears with deformities, such as ears in which the tips are folded down and forward, or "cauliflower ears" in which the curvature of the outer edge of the ear and the natural folds and creases are missing

  • Large, stretched or torn earlobes

  • Earlobes with large folds and wrinkles

With the thread method, both ears are usually treated on the same day. To do this, they are first anesthetized locally. Then the natural fold (the so-called anthelix fold), where the head is connected to the ear, is incised. The new desired position of the anthelical fold is then determined and marked. The new anthelical fold is fixed with fine threads that are woven through the ear cartilage. These threads are located in the ear cartilage under the skin and are therefore not visible. If the result of the first ear is satisfactory, the procedure is repeated for the second ear.

The thread method is relatively uncomplicated and an minimally invasive way to treat protruding ears. Therefore, among other things, it offers these advantages:

• No scalpel. No visible cuts. Therefore also no scarring

• The cartilage of the ear does not have to be exposed in the process

• The patient can have a say about the new position during the procedure

• No bandage necessary

• Ready to work the very next day

• A natural-looking result

• Low risk of complications

• Die Korrektur der Ohrläppchen ist in der Regel unkompliziert und daher schon ab 750 CHF erhältlich.

• Die Kosten für eine Korrektur der Ohren mit der Earfold®-Methode beginnen bei 3'500 CHF.

• Die Korrektur von abstehenden Ohren mit der Fadenmethode gibt es ab etwa 4'500 CHF.

Hinweis: Die Kosten können je nach Ausgangssituation variieren. Es gibt auch Patienten, die mehrere Korrekturen gleichzeitig vornehmen wollen. Bei allen drei Verfahren handelt es sich um rein ästhetische Eingriffe. Daher übernehmen Krankenversicherungen in der Regel keine Kosten. Der Patient muss selbst dafür aufkommen.