Parents are usually first to notice a child’s protruding ears, and Dr. Gerstle recommends not undergoing the procedure until the child mentions it himself or herself. Surgery can be scary to a child, and no surgery happens without some element of discomfort. Therefore, the more the child is on board with wanting the procedure, the better the child will be able to cope with anxiety or discomfort.
Age five is generally the youngest candidate for otoplasty. At this age, the ears are close to adult size, and the cartilage has hardened to the point that we are reasonably sure that the surgery will take.