How can “small ears” be treated?

The accessory ear is a superfluous tissue located in front of the ear screen or on the face, often on the line from the ear screen to the corner of the mouth, and is caused by abnormal development of the first and second gill arches. Most of them also contain cartilage, some of which are connected to the ear cartilage, while others reach into the subcutaneous tissue of the cheek or are placed deep into the parotid fascia. The treatment method is to remove the attached ear and the cartilage contained in it, with appropriate adjustments to the incision suture, such as: trimming the augmentation or depression so that the area conforms to the curve of the face; “Z” suturing of the incision to avoid the formation of an obvious scar. If the ear is fused to the ear screen, the ear screen can be reconstructed during excision. If a deeper preauricular fistula is also present, it should be removed at the same time. Although it is not painful, it is always a defect, and most families request surgery because of the impact on the child’s face, and in early childhood it can have a psychological impact on the child.