EVERY YEAR several articles appear regarding "ear conscious" persons and describing technical variations of operations for protruding ears. In examining such persons, a glance is enough to convince one that nature has gone too far in developing their ears or has been neglectful in supplying enough antihelix. The esthetic rule to follow is to remove nature's "overemphasis" of the ears and yet retain bilateral symmetry and artistic balance of the ears and the face.
Prominent ears are of themselves trifling deformities, but their depressing effect on the personality is quite impressive. Possessors of "lop" ears are subject to the ridicule and jibes of their companions, and the more sensitive sufferers seek correction in order to accomplish two effects:
The surgical correction generally aids in changing the patient's emotional balance for the better and improves his social outlook. It is a source of pleasure to the surgeon to observe this change