Fortunately, torn earlobes or protruded ears (bat ears) can be corrected by ear plastic surgery, also known as otoplasty. Extensively large ears or the ones which stick out cause children to be more vulnerable to bulling or teasing. Such surgical procedures have nothing to do with the hearing ability of the patient; they only improve self-esteem as well as appearance.

Otoplasty (corrective ear surgery) is usually recommended for ears that stick out more than two centimeters (three quarters of an inch) from the back part of the head. This type of surgery must be performed after the growth of the ear is completed; this usually occurs at 5 or 6 years old. There are two advantages for performing otoplasty at a young age; young cartilage can be easily corrected and reshaped, which increases the success of the surgery, and eventually, the child will benefit psychologically from a prolonged enhanced
appearance. Nevertheless, the otoplasty can be performed at any age.

Usually, the surgeon starts the surgery by making a cut in the fold in the posterior area of the head just behind the ears. The surgery may include the removal of the disfiguring cutaneous and cartilage tissues, or just trimming and reshaping of the size of the ears. Finally, the surgeon will secure the corrected cartilage with sutures to enable quick healing.

Normally, the otoplasty surgery usually lasts for 2 hours, but the corrected ear must be protected with a soft dressing for a couple of weeks.  Sometimes, headbands are used to protect the corrected ear only at bed time.

Lop ear deformity is an inherited condition; it occurs when the elevated hard cartilage in the upper part of both ears doesn’t have the same form. If this fold is not present, this will cause the flopping down or the sticking out of the ears. Fortunately, this problem can be corrected surgically by placing permanent sutures to this cartilage, and tying it in a manner that forms a fold and pulls the ear up. After healing, the scarring tissue will keep the fold in
position.

Some babies can be born with closed middle ear opening; thankfully, opening and reshaping of such ears can be done by corrective surgery. Definitely this will enhance the hearing ability for those young ones.

Nowadays, artificial ears can be implanted surgically in case of congenitally absent ears or lost ears due to injuries or accidents, actually, a cartilage from the rib or a special biomedical material, plus the one’s self soft tissue can be used to rebuild the new ears.

Most cases of torn earlobes are caused due to earnings. Fortunately, these cases can be corrected easily in the doctor’s clinic, only the severe cases will need surgical interference. Generally, earlobes heal rapidly without forming a scar, moreover, they can be pierced again in 4-6 weeks post-operatively, but it is always better to wear light weighted earnings.