Prominent ears are about the fold, not the size
Ears that stick out are rarely too large. In most people the natural fold that should curve the ear gently inward never fully formed, so the ear sits at a wider angle from the head. Otoplasty rebuilds that fold and sets the ear back to a natural position — through an incision hidden behind the ear, with nothing visible from the front. Dr. Khaled Ghalwash corrects both ears together for symmetry, in children before school age, teenagers, and adults alike.
الأذن الناصة مش "كبيرة" — الطية الطبيعية هي اللي ناقصة. وبنرجّعها، مش بنشيل الأذن.
Why ears become prominent
ليه الأذن بتبقى ناصة
Prominent ears are present from birth and usually run in families. Two features cause them, alone or together:
An underdeveloped antihelical fold: the antihelix is the soft ridge inside the rim that should curve the upper ear inward. When it is shallow or absent, the upper ear flops outward and looks unfolded.
A deep conchal bowl: the concha is the cup of cartilage next to the ear canal. When it is too deep or tilted, it pushes the whole ear away from the side of the head, increasing the angle.
Because the shape is set in the cartilage, ears do not "grow into" a better position and taping only helps in the first weeks of life. In a developed ear, surgery is what changes the angle.
How the surgery is done — reshape, do not remove
التقنية — إعادة تشكيل، مش إزالة
The modern principle is to reshape the cartilage, not cut it away. Removing or over-scoring cartilage leaves sharp edges and an unnatural ear; gentle reshaping with sutures keeps the ear soft and natural.
Recreating the fold (Mustardé sutures): fine permanent sutures fold the cartilage along where the antihelix should be, restoring the natural inward curve of the upper ear.
Setting the bowl back (conchomastoid sutures): when the conchal bowl is deep, sutures anchor it closer to the bone behind the ear, reducing the angle so the ear sits flatter against the head.
The hidden incision: all of this is done through an incision in the natural crease behind the ear, which heals to a fine line no one sees. There is no incision on the front of the ear or the face.
Not sure your child needs surgery, or whether to wait? Read our honest assessment guide first.
See real before & after results
Before/after otoplasty cases — prominent ears set to a natural position — shared with patient consent.
View the results gallery →بنرجّع طية الأذن — والجرح مخفي ورا الودن
Otoplasty at the practice in Alexandria:
- Cartilage-sparing reshaping — natural, not pinned flat
- Hidden incision behind the ear — no scar on the face
- Both ears corrected together for symmetry
- See real outcomes in the otoplasty results gallery
Choosing your surgeon matters — read how to choose a surgeon before taking any step.
Before surgery: what Dr. Khaled Ghalwash will check
Every patient receives the standard pre-operative assessment, with personalised tests added by profile — and, for children, an anaesthetic-fitness check.
