The term prominent ears is used by medical professionals to describe the appearance of ears that ‘stick out’. This condition can be experienced by anyone of any age, although in most cases, the condition was present at birth. Occasionally, affected people can also find that as well as the ears not lying flat to the head, they also experience: difficulty hearing, headaches, and ringing in the ears. Those who are affected by prominent ears often feel the concern has impacted their self-confidence, with children especially finding the appearance of their ears gets commented on by others.
The main cause of prominent ears is due to an abnormality in the ear cartilage. This can occur in one of two ways: when the antihelical fold (the inner c-shaped rim) has not developed properly, or the conchal bowl (the dip in the middle of the outer ear) is too deep. This can happen in either ear, however in most cases, it affects both ears.
When prominent ears are not down to the way they have developed, injury or trauma may be a contributor. Damage to the cartilage can result in changes to the way it’s structured, leading to changes in the appearance of the ear(s).
Treating prominent ears at Chester Cosmetic Surgery often requires a surgical procedure known as ‘pinnaplasty’. Bilateral pinnaplasty is performed on both ears, however, the treatment plan will consider each ear individually. The procedure is relatively short, and works to change the shape or structure of the cartilage to help ‘pin back’ the ears. Flatter looking ears can greatly impact a person’s well-being, restoring their self-confidence.