Hi,
My son is 4 and has very big ears that stick out and one of them folds over. I am looking for advice on the right time to have surgery for this. Of the 2 opinions we got, one said that now would be the right time, the other said it is better to wait until they are 6-8 years old. We are wanting to do this before it becomes an issue of kids teasing him. He is a very bright, and extremely sensitive little boy. I am sure the experience at this point will be scary, but I feel we can do it now with just some very basic facts and not getting too much into why we are doing it other than we are just "fixing them so they will be straightened when he grows up." Ny advice would be appreciated.
I would say if you're going to do it, do it sooner than later. Have you done all the research necessary to make you comfortable? Do you have more questions? Maybe a 3rd opinion to be used as a tie breaker?
Don't assume that he will be teased. My son's ears stick out a little. The only comment has been from someone who had a nose job as a kid. He also has an ear tag. (extra cartilage) He has never been teased. He was going in for other surgery and the doctor was going to remove it. Luckily, my son touched it one day and said, this means I'm lucky. Phew! I left it alone. Self esteem is what's important.
My daughter had major reconstructive ear surgery as a child. It was done in stages beginning at age 4 - this was determined to be the best age by her doctors as the ear is almost its adult size by then. She handled it well. I'm not sure if she could have handled the teasing that was inevitable as she got older. Since you have 2 differing opinions from your doctors, I would seek out a third opinion. If it were me, I would do it sooner rather than later.
My nephew is sort of in the same position. He has an ear that is larger than the other one and kind of folded over. My dad has the same type of ears. Can you believe, my dad never realized this until maybe 5 years ago. He said one day he was looking in the mirror and noticed it. Until the day he pointed it out to all of us, we, even my my mom, had never noticed it.
Anyway my nephew is 3 years old and an ear Dr suggested surgery to my sister. My sister had just went through a surgery for ear tubes, tonsil and adenoid removal. She couldn't see putting him under for something superficial....so she hasn't. I don't know if she ever will.....
Just letting you know....he may not get teased. My dad never did.
Is it more than simply cosmetic, like is it like a deformity? If so, I would do as much research as possible on the procedure, how simple it is, recovery... I agree with getting a third opinion.... I've seen big eared goofy looking kids grow into their ears, and I've seen deformed eared adults... so it depends on the severity.
From some quick research I did, the starting age for the procedure is 4 years old, since that is the time when ears are fully developed.
