Cartilage sparing or cutting otoplasty

Many of our Houston otoplasty patients will ask if we perform cartilage sparing or cartilage cutting otoplasty when pinning the ears.  With cartilage cutting otoplasty, small pieces of the ear cartilage will be removed in order to bend the cartilage more easily.  Dr. Funk usually reserves this for older patients with very firm cartilage who have ears that are extremely…

How is Otoplasty performed?

Many of my Houston otoplasty patients are curious as to how we pin the ears back with otoplasty.  There are two different approaches to this procedure.  One is cartilage cutting while the other is cartilage sparing.  With cartilage sparing otoplasty, stitches or sutures are used to bend and reshape the cartilage to treat protruding ears.  With cartilage cutting procedures,…

Ear pinning in kids

Many of my Houston otoplasty or ear pinning patients may ask at what age can my child have otoplasty. The ear develops to 95% of it's adult size by age 5-6.  The cartilage at that age is also still very pliable and moldable.  This allow for an easier correction with otoplasty or ear pinning.  This is also why children's face masks are more difficult to wear when looped…