Ears

While everybody’s ears are unique, ears that are notably misshapen, asymmetrical or damaged can have a big impact on self-esteem, especially if they lead to teasing or bullying as a child. However, most ear deformities can be successfully corrected with ear plastic surgery.

Whatever your concern or diagnosis, we’ll talk you through the available options, sharing the risks and considerations. Dr Chang’s surgical precision and anatomical knowledge achieve excellent cosmetic results, leaving our patients happier and more confident.

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Ear plastic surgery > Sydney

From otoplasty for prominent ears to earlobe reconstruction and full ear reconstruction for microtia, learn more about the ear plastic surgery Dr Chang offers from her private clinic and hospitals across Sydney.

Prominent ear correction (otoplasty)

Ears that stick out from the head by more than 2 cm are considered to be prominent or protruding. In most cases, it’s caused by an underdeveloped antihelical fold. While not a medical condition, it can cause significant psychological distress and affect self-esteem.

Otoplasty involves making a small incision behind the ears, reshaping the cartilage and repositioning the ears closer to the head. It can be performed in children as young as 6 or 7 years. Usually, both ears are corrected for symmetry, even if one protrudes more than the other.

Ear reconstruction for microtia

The word microtia, meaning ‘little ear’, is a congenital deformity of the ear where the outer ear is underdeveloped, abnormally formed or completely missing. It can also be accompanied by an absent ear lobe or canal and is associated with varying degrees of hearing loss.

Microtia surgery often involves using the patient’s own rib cartilage to rebuild the framework. Skin around the ear is used to cover the cartilage. We recommend the procedure take place from 9 years of age onwards. It’s important your child understands why they’re having the surgery and feels comfortable.

If you have a child with congenital microtia, treatment is best coordinated through the specialist Microtia Clinic at CHW.

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Newborn ear moulding

Newborn ear moulding (newborn ear non-surgical correction) is a non-invasive procedure we perform shortly after birth for certain congenital external ear contour deformities. The treatment is most effective in the first 2-3 months of life when babies’ ear cartilage is more malleable due to residual circulating maternal oestrogen in the baby’s body.

This treatment involves wearing ear moulds on the outside of the ear to reshape the cartilage. It’s completely non-invasive. The device should be worn continuously for 4-6 weeks until stable improvement is seen. Newborn ear moulding is especially effective for Stahl’s ear and lop/cup ear. It can avoid the need for surgery later in life. We provide the ear moulds during the consultation if the deformity is assessed to be suitable for moulding.

Ear lobe reconstruction

Ear lobe reconstruction is a procedure designed to correct the appearance of the earlobes. It’s typically done to repair or reconstruct the earlobe after it’s been torn or stretched.

The procedure for ear lobe reconstruction is relatively straightforward and can be done under local anaesthetic. Initial recovery usually takes 4-5 days. Our goal when reconstructing earlobes is to create a neat, natural shape that suits the curves of your face.

Ear reconstruction post trauma

If you or a loved one have suffered a physical injury to the ear due to trauma or an accident, ear reconstruction surgery can restore the ear’s appearance. Common types of damage we repair include lacerations, loss and burns.

Our approach to ear reconstruction post-trauma depends on the nature and extent of the injury. It may include simple suture repair or be more extensive, requiring multiple reconstructive procedures using skin grafting, flaps and/or cartilage grafting. Dr Chang will discuss your specific situation with you.

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Book a consultation

Are you ready to discuss your goals and find out more about your chosen procedure and whether it’s suitable for you? Contact our team to book a consultation with specialist plastic and skin cancer surgeon Dr Chang.