Bullying is a social issue that has always been present, especially among children. In the past, bullying most often took place at school, in-person. Children often bully one another for being different, especially when it comes to their appearance. Unfortunately, with the popularity and accessibility of social media, bullying has spread to online platforms. Now, bullies can reach their victims no matter where they are. This makes it even harder to avoid the negative impacts of bullying. As a result, children and adults alike are beginning to consider plastic surgery to address features that receive ridicule. Ears are among the most common of these features, making otoplasty one of the leading treatments for bullied populations.
Otoplasty is often a fitting surgery for patients who feel that their ears are too large or stick out too far from their head. These are features that bullies often target and can be very difficult to hide. Otoplasty, or ear surgery, can reshape the ears so that they better complement the rest of the facial features and are better proportioned to the shape and size of the head. With otoplasty, patients can address ears that are too large or protrude a significant distance from the head. As a result, patients can achieve a facial profile that is subtler, likely eliminating the ridicule of large or protruding ears.
The otoplasty procedure can help patients feel much more confident in their appearance. However, a cosmetic procedure cannot address mental or emotional issues. If the bullying has become a serious concern for you and your child, you may need to take multiple approaches to overcome it. Additionally, it is important to consider the recovery period involved in an otoplasty. It can take a few weeks for healing to be complete. The recovery period also requires that the patient wears a protective headband, and they may not be able to participate in certain sports or activities during the healing process.
The best way to determine if otoplasty is a good fit for your child is to have a discussion with both your child and their surgeon. During this discussion, you can discuss any concerns and treatment goals to ensure that everyone will be happy with the results of surgery. To learn more about the otoplasty procedure or talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon, contact us to schedule a consultation at Facial, Plastic, Reconstructive & Laser Surgery. We welcome patients from Poughkeepsie, Westchester, New York City and the surrounding areas of New York.
