Correction as an older child or adult
Surgery should be delayed until a child is at least 5 years of age. The most common cause of excessive prominence is the absence of the anti helical fold of the ear causing the ear to protrude from the side of the head. The average prominence of an adult ear is about 19mm: about 5% of the population has an ear that is significantly more prominent.
Surgery should not be offered to a child of more than 5 years of age unless she or he requests the procedure. Common triggers for this include persistent teasing, or a desire to wear hair up or shorter. Correction should produce an ear, which looks proportionate, and natural. The helical rim should still be visible on frontal view. Over-correction of the ear, bringing it too close to the side of the head, looks unnatural.