Can Skull Reshaping Surgery Improve Ear Asymmetry?

Q: Dr. Eppley, after skull reshaping surgery is the ear asymmetry also corrected?

A: Skull reshaping surgery alone will not correct ear asymmetry. That would need to have a specific ear procedure that can most likely be done at the same time as the skull reshaping surgery. Associated ear protrusions are common in skull asymmetry and can be addressed with otoplasty setback surgery. If, however, the ear issue is that it is set further forward or back on the side of the head from the other ear, that is not a fixable issue. The actual front to back position of the ear on the side of the head is fixed by its cartilaginous attachment to the ear canal. Only ear protrusions or an increased auriculocephalic angle can be improved by setback otoplasty surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana