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Prominent ears can be quite a concern for both men and women of all ages, and can be particularly troubling for children or teenagers. While there is not usually anything medically wrong with ears that simply protrude or stick out, or are misshapen, undoubtedly their appearance can make a person feel self-conscious. Men in particular, who traditionally can’t hide their ears with their hair, can really struggle with their appearance.
The issue can be due to an absence of what’s called the antihelical fold - the prominent fold in the upper area of the ear - or it can be because the conchal bowl (the main hollow of the ear) is very deep, which often causes the outer areas of the ear to stick out.
We have been able to treat and improve the issue of protruding ears for a long time, but while surgery was once required, new innovations have come along to revolutionise ear correction treatment. In fact, about 80% of patients may now not need surgery to improve the appearance of their ears.
The earFold device technique has changed how we address the issue of protruding ears, in adults and children over seven years of age. It is a small implant that is inserted under the skin, via a little incision.
The patient can select the final position of their ears prior to the procedure so they can really see what they will look like. This is not possible with traditional otoplasty (ear correcting surgery) - although imaging software, such as Crisalix has really improved matters in this regard, allowing people to see a visual representation of the potential results prior to surgery.
In the case of someone with very prominent ears, we can show what the ears will look like with one earFold clip on each ear, or two clips if needed, and so on.
Every client will undergo a consultation, but the actual procedure to apply the clips takes 20 minutes, whereas surgery could be one to two hours.
Recovery time, if you take in the small amount of bruising and swelling, can be up to six weeks, which is comparable with the traditional surgery.
Aftercare is lessened too. A wound closure strip is used to protect the insertion site of the earFold while after an otoplasty, a more significant protective dressing, or a head bandage, is usually needed.
The use of the earFold device is quick and effective, but it is a medical procedure, so there are some things to keep in mind. It is generally carried out under local anaesthetic. A numbing agent is applied to the area, then I use a special introducer to insert the clip or clips internally. You might find that your ears may feel numb for a few hours after the treatment.
There may be slight pain and your ears may feel a little sensitive, but this can be easily treated with paracetamol, and the discomfort should be gone in a few days. As mentioned earlier, any bruising or swelling should be gone completely by about six weeks.
As the incision to insert the device is very small, patients will be left with just a small scar on the ear, and this is often barely noticeable after a few months.
It is also good to know that the earFold procedure is also reversible, which can be very reassuring for people. If a patient decides that, after having the procedure done, they want further work done to their ears, they can have the earFold removed and progress to surgery.
If you are interested in ear correction with the earFold technique, contact us to arrange a consultation.
Find out all you need to know about cosmetic procedures and the factors you need to consider in our free guide: Considerations Before Deciding on Cosmetic Surgery and Post-Treatment Care:
Download Mr. Chan's Guide to Cosmetic Surgery Considerations
Prominent ears can be quite a concern for both men and women of all ages, and can be particularly troubling for children or teenagers. While there is not usually anything medically wrong with ears that simply protrude or stick out, or are misshapen, undoubtedly their appearance can make a person feel self-conscious. Men in particular, who traditionally can’t hide their ears with their hair, can really struggle with their appearance.
The issue can be due to an absence of what’s called the antihelical fold - the prominent fold in the upper area of the ear - or it can be because the conchal bowl (the main hollow of the ear) is very deep, which often causes the outer areas of the ear to stick out.
We have been able to treat and improve the issue of protruding ears for a long time, but while surgery was once required, new innovations have come along to revolutionise ear correction treatment. In fact, about 80% of patients may now not need surgery to improve the appearance of their ears.
The earFold device technique has changed how we address the issue of protruding ears, in adults and children over seven years of age. It is a small implant that is inserted under the skin, via a little incision.
The patient can select the final position of their ears prior to the procedure so they can really see what they will look like. This is not possible with traditional otoplasty (ear correcting surgery) - although imaging software, such as Crisalix has really improved matters in this regard, allowing people to see a visual representation of the potential results prior to surgery.
In the case of someone with very prominent ears, we can show what the ears will look like with one earFold clip on each ear, or two clips if needed, and so on.
Every client will undergo a consultation, but the actual procedure to apply the clips takes 20 minutes, whereas surgery could be one to two hours.
Recovery time, if you take in the small amount of bruising and swelling, can be up to six weeks, which is comparable with the traditional surgery.
Aftercare is lessened too. A wound closure strip is used to protect the insertion site of the earFold while after an otoplasty, a more significant protective dressing, or a head bandage, is usually needed.
The use of the earFold device is quick and effective, but it is a medical procedure, so there are some things to keep in mind. It is generally carried out under local anaesthetic. A numbing agent is applied to the area, then I use a special introducer to insert the clip or clips internally. You might find that your ears may feel numb for a few hours after the treatment.
There may be slight pain and your ears may feel a little sensitive, but this can be easily treated with paracetamol, and the discomfort should be gone in a few days. As mentioned earlier, any bruising or swelling should be gone completely by about six weeks.
As the incision to insert the device is very small, patients will be left with just a small scar on the ear, and this is often barely noticeable after a few months.
It is also good to know that the earFold procedure is also reversible, which can be very reassuring for people. If a patient decides that, after having the procedure done, they want further work done to their ears, they can have the earFold removed and progress to surgery.
If you are interested in ear correction with the earFold technique, contact us to arrange a consultation.
Find out all you need to know about cosmetic procedures and the factors you need to consider in our free guide: Considerations Before Deciding on Cosmetic Surgery and Post-Treatment Care:
Download Mr. Chan's Guide to Cosmetic Surgery Considerations
