Protruding ears

Children with protruding ears are often teased at school and suffer greatly as a result. Ears with a head-ear distance of more than 1.8 cm are considered aesthetically unpleasant.

Aesthetically unpleasant ears are those with a head-ear distance of more than 1.8 cm. This is usually due to a weak or non-existent ear fold. This fold is formed during the operation. This allows the pinna to fit better to the head.

The operation is performed under general anaesthetic during a day stay. Afterwards, a bandage or headband must be worn day and night for three weeks and only at night for a further three weeks. We therefore only recommend the operation in the colder months. As the ear is not yet fully grown under the age of 5 and there is a much greater risk that the ear will stick out again after the operation, we offer the operation from the age of 5 at the earliest. It is also important that the child itself wants the operation.

As this is a cosmetic procedure, the operation is not always covered by basic health insurance. Supplementary insurance usually covers a proportion of the costs, which range from CHF 2500 (one ear) to CHF 5000 (both ears).

In certain cases, prominent ears and other congenital ear deformities, such as a folded ear, can be treated in newborns with a splint (EarWell ®) can be brought into shape. Treatment should be started at the age of 3-4 weeks, as the ear is still easy to mould.

The duration of the therapy is 4-6 weeks and weekly check-ups in our consultation are necessary. They are completely painless for the child.

The EarWell ® treatment is not is covered by health insurance and costs CHF 630.