Skin Tag on Ear

I don't understand why they couldn't remove it with a local anesthesia, but if it requires a general anesthesia, I would wait until he's older. No need to take that minimal risk, but risk nonetheless, for a skin tag.

My son has an ear tag also. When he was an infant his dr. consulted with an ENT who said he wouldn't remove it until he was 5. One reason was the chance of re-growth if I remember correctly. He just turned 5 and goes in for his yearly appointment next week. At this point his dad and I think we will just leave it. It is causing no harm and we just don't want to put him through it...he has already had stitches in his head and split open his chin twice...so he is a bit fearful of doctors at this point. We figure we will wait until he is older and maybe playing sports where it may become an issue. And he will be able to handle it better. Personally, unless there is a medical reason to remove it, I would leave it.

Is it something that has to be done right now? I would wait, if you could, until he is a little older. The other option is to get a second opinion. THere is no reason to put an almost 2 year old child under unless there is some major surgery they need to have. I, myself, have NEVER been put under, and when I was 3-4 years old, I had stitches sew around one of my eyes. NO putting me under for that one. And I am only 28. It wasn't really that long ago, and even now, if it is something that does not "life or death" require anesthesia, then don't do it. It's not good for their little bodies, anyway.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
-E. Mc.

Hi C., my daughter was born with one also. She is now 25. I just told her about your question, and she says to leave it, it builds charactor. I was worried about it as well, but I didn't want to put her through that as a baby. I have left it up to her over the years. She chooses to leave it. Good Luck

Hi C., I would recomand good, safe for babies nutrition to make his body stronger before operation and clean his body after off medicine. Call me if you feel like talking.
###-###-####. A. Bofinger.

Hi C.,

Our daughter was born with a skin tag also. We heard a few things about how these are removed before we asked our pediatrician about it. She recommended we go to a plastic surgeon for a consultation. No one new how far into her skin the tag went so like I said it was recommended that we see a plastic surgeon. Also, a plastic surgeon was appropro in our case to ensure that there was little or no scarring. Our daughter was admitted to the hospital and put under anestesia for the surgery. We did it when she around 2 years old. We wanted to do it while she was young enough that she wouldn't remember it and old enough to be a little more robust. The surgery went great. When she came out of the anestesia she cried and thrashed around a bit (which is very normal for most kids), but once she calmed down we took her home, she took a nap, and woke up like she'd never been to the hospital at all. Today you can barely see where the tag was. We are happy that we did it. We didn't want her self conscous of it or having to deal with possible ridicule. Again, we are glad we did it. I hope this helps.

My son had an undecended testicle and a hernia from being premature. He had surgery at age 3 which speacialists recommend between a year and 18 months. His pediatrician gave me the risks and they were higher for a baby being put under anesthesia, who is premature with asthma. I feared putting him under because the effects of the anesthesia which is heavy on the lungs. After surgery I was immediately called in because he was having breathing problems from the anethesia and I had to take him to emergency as the procedure was at an outpatient clinic. His lungs had pretty much collapsed and he needed breathing treatments and antibiotics. He stayed in the hospital overnight. He was resiliant and was running around two days later. If he does not have any health risks or asthma then the risks are pretty low. I don't want to scare you, I just want you to understand I have been there and yes it is scary but he will be okay. Even my son with immature lungs and asthma due to being a preemie made it out of surgery okay!

Hi C.!

I was born with a skin tag on my ear! Long, long ago apparently when barbarick methods of removal were used...all the doctor did was tie some sort of sting around the tag, as close to my head as he could and basically cinched it off. The extra skin doesn't really have much feeling...I can take a photo of my ear where the skin tag was if you want to see what I am talking about - just let me know. I would probably get a second opinion before putting little under anethesia.
Good luck and have a great day.

A skin tag is a rather simple procedure. Your MD should be able to remove it with a topical anesthetic of 4% lidocane or at the very most a local injection. This is really an easy procedure to perform and tolerate. Good luck!

Are you sure your doc didn’t mean a local anesthetic? I had a skin tag on the top of my ear that my mother got rid of the old fashioned way (numbed it with ice and tied a thread around it real tight). It died and fell off in less than a week and my mom says I only fussed when she was holding the ice to my ear.

I just heard a talk on NPR last week about a study that was done by the Mayo Clinic which showed a relationship between Children under 4 having a general anesthetic and the incidence of ADHD and other psychological disorders. The chances of disorders increased significantly with each exposure to anesthetic. The FDA has decided to work with them to conduct further studies. The current recommendation is to avoid having young children put under unless absolutely necessary and to postpone it as long as possible when necessary. You can go to NPR's web site to read the whole article.

D.

C.,
My daughter was also born with a skin tag on her ear. I wanted it removed immediately, but my husband and I were also afraid of putting her under. She is now 3 and we haven't done it yet. We decided that since it wasn't bothering her at all, we would wait until she wanted it removed and then we would do it. She has just started noticing it and asked about it, she calls it her earing. I predict she will probably not ask to have it removed until she is much older. Good luck!

S.

Hi hon, I feel your pain but I wouldn't worry about it. I have an autistic daughter (19 years old now) who has had to be "put under" every six months since she got teeth so that she could have her routine cleanings. I also have a 15 yo son who had tubes in his ears twice. They usually sail through it. The only thing that you might have to deal with is the nausea when they are coming out of anastesia. I would recommend the surgery now so that he doesn't have to remember or deal with it as he gets older.

I would clarify with the ENT, did they mean general anesthesia, or local? For removing a skin tag, I would bet it would be local anesthesia. As mentioned by the woman responder who also had one removed without anesthesia, it is a very simple and relatively painless process, so I can't imagine a doctor recommending general anesthesia for it. If for some reason the doctor does recommend general anesthesia, and has some valid reason for this, try suggesting that they use local anesthesia instead, and schedule the removal at a time where your baby normally has his bottle and nap. This way they can give him the local, and then give you time to settle him down with a bottle in your lap while they come in and snip it off quickly. I've had one removed from my arm without anesthesia, and litterally it is like ripping off a bandaid. A quick little sting, and then it's over. I'd be surprised if your doctor is really recommending that general anesthesia be used. Good luck!

If the tag is loose they can do a quick freeze off which doesn't require anesthesia.

My son was born with 2 skin tags on his ear and I had them removed at 1 year. He did really good with it, but he was mad that we was being held down. It healed fast and it was quick. Before I brought him to the Dr. office, they gave me a numbing cream that I had to rub on the tag and all around it and it worked very well because he didn't act like he felt it at all. I would get it removed. My biggest concern was that he would be teased. Kids are cruel!

i am also curious about dis as well because im debating on whether or not 2 have my 3 year old daughters removed when she was born her dad n i took her 2 da doctor n dey told us if we really wanted it dey would do it but dey also told us it could put her at risk 2 develop keloides so he told us also it would b better 2 wait until she older so now we are considerin it again my thing is ive been a victim of riducule when i was younger n i dont want my children 2 have 2 go thru dat her dad is leaving da decision 2 me but im also scared about wat if we do remove it n she still gets keloides dats even worser i mean maybe no one will bother her about it i had young kids shes been around already ask about it dey havent teased her dey were just curious 2 wat it was all pointy oh wats dat its hurts 2 have her subjected 2 dat but maybe it'll b ok but dats now im so confused it doesnt bother her or her older sister i even pretend its not there she doesnt bother it she doesnt seem 2 care she always in da mirror so i kno she knows its there but she not complaining so maybe i should just hold off until she does start 2 if she even do i read someone say they are grown now n its part of their character so i think i'll just wait it out im scared off the risks right now n i dont feel a absolute need for it at the moment she starts school in august so i'll just c how it goes