My daughter has ears that stick out too far.

Question:
My daughter has ears that stick out too far. My husband and I have discussed otoplasty but I am afraid that going through the surgery and having pain will traumatize her. In your practice, have you found that young children can get through the surgery unscathed? My daughter is 9 years old.

Answer:
Otoplasty is not a painful surgery, and children as young as 6 seem to fly through without complaints. The procedure is done with anesthesia for children, but adults can easily have the procedure with only local anesthesia. A good time for otoplasty is just before first grade, when other kids start picking out physical differences and exploiting them.