Big ears
Large ears are a disproportionately enlarged auricle or some parts of it in relation to the head.
The content of the article:
Physiological functions of the outer ear
Methods of correcting the size and shape of the ears
Big ears
Big ears are an aesthetic problem, not a medical one. Nevertheless, every year a huge number of people resort to the procedure of ear reduction. At the same time, men are more likely to undergo this procedure than women, since it is difficult for them to hide their disadvantage with a hairstyle, which leads to psychological discomfort.
To date, with the help of otoplasty, it is possible to adjust both the size of the auricle and its structure. And if the patient’s ears really look too big in relation to the head, this may be an indication for surgical correction.
Good results after otoplasty can be achieved only if the proportions of the ear match the proportions of the face and the rest of the body. To determine these proportions, an analysis of height, age and, in some cases, bone radiography is carried out. The auricle consists of cartilage having an intricate funnel-shaped structure, which is covered with skin. Of all the parts of the ear, only the lobe has no cartilage tissue. The size of the ear varies throughout life in proportion to changes in age and height, although the strongest changes occur in childhood. As the height and age increase, the outer ear also increases. In the period from 5 to 20 years, the ear increases from 53 mm to 10 mm. Active ear growth slows down around the age of 15. By the age of 6, the auricle reaches 85%, by the age of 9 — 90%, and by the age of 15 — 95% of its genetically laid length. In adulthood, the size of the ear practically does not change.
The width of the ear also depends on the age and height of the patient, but in comparison with the length, this relationship is not so pronounced. On average, the length of an adult’s ear is 6.5 cm, and the width is 3.5 cm. The gap between the curl and the mastoid process is 2 cm, the angle between the side of the head and the plane of the ear is 30 degrees, and between the head and the auricle is 90 degrees. The length of the earlobe is 1.5-2 cm. The shape and method of attachment to the cheek lobes are quite diverse. The gender of a person does not affect the appearance of the auricle.
Sometimes it may seem to the patient that he has big ears, when in fact it is not so. This happens in the presence of smoothed folds of the shell and its flattening. This state cannot be called a true macrotia. In medicine, large ears are divided into several types. An ear that has the correct structure, but is uniformly enlarged from all sides is called a giant ear. There are often cases when the patient has enlarged individual parts of the ear, for example, its edge or funnel, while it lags far behind the cranial wall. Sometimes large ears combine various deformities. There are cases when only the earlobe increases, most often it looks flabby at the same time, although it may have a normal appearance.
Physiological functions of the outer ear
The outer cartilaginous part of the human ear performs several functions:
sound-catching. Having a funnel-shaped structure, the auricle catches, concentrates and transforms sounds;
protective. The outer part of the ear protects the inner and middle ear from various kinds of damage, dust ingress, low temperatures;
ototopic. Thanks to it, a person determines the place where the sound comes from. This function is provided by the maximum possible distance between the auricles.
The surface of the auricle is covered with a huge number of biologically active points, acting on them with the help of nerve connections, it is possible to send signals to certain parts of the brain, thanks to which it is possible to alleviate the symptoms of many diseases. This ear ability is often used during acupuncture sessions.
Thanks to these features, large ears can be called an advantage rather than a disadvantage. However, many people do not like their unaesthetic appearance. Although large ears in some countries have always been considered the ideal of beauty, for example, in the African tribe of Mursi, ears were stretched to enormous sizes.
Often large ears serve as a reason for ridicule in adolescence. Sometimes this leads to isolation and depression at a more mature age. As a rule, in this case, surgical correction is necessary.
The following parameters can be attributed to the normal size of the ear:
the length of the male auricle should be 50-82 mm, and the width — 32-52 mm.;
the length of a normal female ear is approximately 50-77 mm, and the width is 28-45 mm.
There is a version that the normal length of the outer ear should correspond to the length of the nose, but most plastic surgeons consider it too simplistic and do not use it in all cases.
In some patients, asymmetry of the auricles may be observed. As a rule, in this case, the size of the right auricle exceeds the size of the left. This can also be a reason to perform otoplasty.
Methods of correcting the size and shape of the ears
Otoplasty is an operation that aims to change the appearance of the ears. Otoplasty can correct overly large, protruding, deformed, asymmetrical auricles. Thanks to reconstructive otoplasty, it is possible to restore the missing parts of the ear, which, for example, were lost after an injury.
The earliest age at which otoplasty is allowed is 6 years. For children, this operation is performed only in cases of severe defects or serious violations of the formation of the auricles. If there are only large ears, the operation is not performed at this age. In general, otoplasty is allowed for patients whose age has reached 15 years: after the ear has been fully formed. There is no age restriction in adult patients.
Before surgery, the patient undergoes a full examination, contraindications are found out, computer modeling of the appearance of the future ear is done.
To perform otoplasty, general anesthesia is used in children, and local anesthesia is used in adults. During the procedure, an incision is made behind the auricle, the structure of the cartilage is corrected, after which it moves to the correct position. After the end of the operation, an internal suture is applied to the incision area. If the ears are too large, then excision of excess skin and cartilage tissue is possible during the intervention. Since the incision is made in the area behind the ears, the scars after surgery are usually invisible. A cosmetic seam is applied to the outside of the incision.
To date, the operation can be performed using a laser. Carrying out the procedure in this way allows you to perform all actions as accurately as possible, reduce the duration of surgical intervention, accelerate the healing of postoperative wounds, and facilitate the rehabilitation period. Performing laser otoplasty is painless, bloodless, eliminates the risk of many complications. Otoplasty is considered a simple operation, it is almost never accompanied by complications.
Pain in the postoperative period is poorly expressed and is easily eliminated with the help of painkillers. During 2 weeks after the operation, it is necessary to wear a fixing bandage, the stitches are removed, as a rule, on 7-10 days. During the next 2 months, sports activities are not recommended, as well as activities during which it is possible to injure the auricle. Within 1-2 months, the patient should wear a special supportive bandage.
With the help of otoplasty, anyone can easily get rid of complexes and worries about the unaesthetic appearance of their ears, significantly improve the quality of life.
