theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 50 DINING OUT HEALTH & WELLNESS ome of us are not so lucky when it comes to our ears. We don’t usually get compliments on our beautiful ears. Ears don’t necessarily contribute much to the beauty of a face, but they can surely distract from facial beauty if they stick out like a sore thumb. Protruding ears can be quite disfiguring, especially if you are a girl and cannot put your hair up in a ponytail. This problem is identified at birth. It is not a social or medical issue at that time in an infant’s life. However, it becomes a huge problem when a child enters school. The normal curiosity of other kids can spill over to teasing or even bullying. This can be devastating to a young child who is developing self-esteem and looking for acceptance. The mechanisms of this condition lay in the incomplete growth of the ear in an embryo. The ear does not pull closer to the skull and the normal curves in front of the ear are not fully developed. These two deformities have the medical names ‘Deep Concha’ and ‘Lack of Anti helical fold’. The condition is more common in Caucasians especially those of Welsh origins. Since it is a congenital abnormality it can present along with other congenital deformities of the inner ear or other body organs. It is important to check this with the pediatrician. Fortunately, we have methods available to correct this abnormality. As with most cosmetic surgeries, otoplasty, the technique used to correct this condition, was developed based on procedures used to treat injuries of the ear. In 1845, Dieffenbach described the correction of a posttraumatic auricular deformity. In 1881, Ely first described cosmetic otoplasty. Over time the techniques have been refined and results have improved. The surgery reshapes the ear. It has two essential components. The first part is pulling back the mid-ear to bring it closer to the skull by either removing extra cartilage or using permanent sutures to pull it back. The second part is the creation of the fold in front of the ear (anti-helical fold). This can also be done with permanent sutures or by reshaping the cartilage. All surgical scars are placed behind the ear and are well hidden. The procedure is done under anesthesia for children, but adults can have it done under local anesthesia only. The surgery typically takes about two hours, followed by up to three months of healing. In the first few weeks after surgery, the patient wears a headband at night so the ears are not hurt during sleep. After the first two days, there is no big dressing, and the patient can socialize and resume normal activities. Any exercise should be avoided for at least a month post-surgery to avoid any injury. This is one of the most rewarding surgeries in the whole of plastic surgery. What makes it unique is the fact that ear growth is complete by five years of age, hence the results are permanent. Don’t hide behind long hair. Get your ears pinned and show off that ponytail! Janjua Facial Surgery 2345 Lamington Road, Suite 108 Bedminster, NJ 07921 (908) 470-2600 www.janjuafacialsurgery.com MEDICAL MINUTES Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) By Tanveer Janjua, MD S Before After 3322 Route 22 West, Suite 1207-1208, Branchburg, NJ 08876 908- 218- 0300 908-218-0301 (fax) www.branchburgoralsurgery.com We Accept Most Major PPO Dental Plans Karl Maloney, D.D.S. Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Wisdom Teeth Dental Implants Bone Grafting General Anesthesia 3D Cone Beam CT Oral Pathology Facial Trauma 4/15/25
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzA2NDY0