WHAT IT DOES: Makes prominent ears lay flatter against the head giving a more normal look.

BEST CANDIDATES: Children and adults with prominent protruding ears.

LENGTH OF SURGERY: 1 hour

RECOVERY: Must wear a headband for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Limit contact sports for 6 weeks.

BACK TO WORK: 3 to 5 days

COST: $2,160 - $3,600 (plus $500 fee for Anesthesia)

Kids often tease their peers without realizing how much they are hurting someone's feelings. Comments about protruding, large or prominent ears in children can often send them into hiding. Ear surgery can make large ears smaller or bring protruding ears closer to the head.

Your child's ears stop growing outward by about age four. It is best to perform the surgery before a child enters school in order to prevent teasing by insensitive classmates. However, ear surgery can be performed at any age, including adults.

Your surgeon will usually make an incision in the back of the ear. The cartilage is reshaped and bent back towards the head. Sometimes a piece of cartilage is removed to provide for a more natural fold. The head and ears are wrapped with a bulky bandage to help mold and protect the ears. The ears will be sore for a few days. Any
discomfort can be controlled by pain medication prescribed by your surgeon.

Adults are usually up and around the same day of surgery, but kids should take it easy for a couple of days. They can usually return to school in a week to ten days, but they need to be careful on the playground. The bulky dressing and sutures are removed in five to seven days. There will be a faint scar on the back of the ear that will fade over time. A lightweight headband is worn during sleep for the first few weeks.