Can Otoplasty Be Performed on a 10-Year-Old Child?

Thanks for the question. 85% of the ear development is completed at the age of 3 and 93% at the age of 10. Because of that, this process can be carried out in the preschool period without the child having a social trauma. I wish you all the best.

Thank you for your question. Absolutely, your
child’s ear has developed sufficiently at this point to accommodate a surgical
procedure such as otoplasty to recontour her ears and make them less prominent.
As others have mentioned, the surgery can be performed on children aged 4 and
older. For younger children, the procedure is actually performed under general
anesthesia in an ambulatory surgical center as they would be unable to tolerate
an office-based intervention under local anesthesia, and would need additional
monitoring with oral sedation that often times cannot be provided in the office
setting. A consultation with an expert in facial plastic surgery will allow for
a proper assessment of your child’s individual needs.

Otoplasty can be performed after age three, when the ears have reached 85 percent of the adult size. It is appropriate in a ten year old unless the child isn't psychologically ready to undergo an operation. I like to operate during transition points, ie, between elementary and junior high school, or preschool and kindergarten, where children will be exposed to new friends and situations as they will feel more confident and less subject to taunting with more normal appearing ears.