Ear Correction Surgery (Otoplasty)

Otoplasty at MUDr. Kloud's Hradec Králové practice corrects prominent or protruding ears by reshaping and securing the ear cartilage through an incision placed in the natural fold behind the ear, where the resulting scar is completely hidden. Both ears are treated in a single local anaesthesia session of approximately one and a half hours. For children ten years and under, the procedure is covered by Czech health insurance when it meets the clinical criteria. Earlobe correction — for stretched, split, or elongated earlobes — is an additional service at CZK 3,000 standard or CZK 5,000 after gauge stretching. A protective dressing and headband are worn for ten to twelve days after surgery.

Prominent ears — those projecting more than approximately 20 mm from the side of the skull — result primarily from an underdeveloped antihelical fold: the inner cartilaginous ridge of the ear that, when insufficiently curved, allows the outer rim of the ear to spring forward and outward. Otoplasty at MUDr. Kloud's practice corrects this structural issue through direct access to the cartilage via a discreet incision in the post-auricular (behind-the-ear) sulcus. MUDr. Kloud's technique combines cartilage scoring and permanent non-absorbable sutures to reshape the antihelical fold and, where a deep conchal bowl is contributing to ear prominence, to advance the conchal cartilage closer to the skull. The result brings the ear into a natural relationship with the head without an over-corrected, pinned appearance — a common criticism of less refined otoplasty techniques. Because the incision sits entirely behind the ear, no scar is visible when the patient is viewed from the front. Both ears are operated in a single session of approximately 90 minutes under local anaesthesia; operating one ear at a time doubles the visit burden and introduces asymmetry risk between healed and unhealed sides. The procedure is ambulatory — no hospital admission is needed. For children aged ten years and under, otoplasty meets the criteria for coverage by VZP and several other Czech health insurers as a developmental correction, provided the degree of protrusion meets the clinical threshold. Families should confirm eligibility with their insurer and arrange a referral before booking. The earlobe correction service addresses a separate set of concerns: elongation from heavy or long-worn earrings, split lobes from accidental earring tears, and complex deformity following gauge or tunnel stretching. Standard earlobe repair (CZK 3,000) involves excision of a carefully designed wedge and fine closure; post-stretching corrections (CZK 5,000) require more tissue reconstruction. Re-piercing is possible no earlier than six weeks after the procedure. Post-operative care for otoplasty involves a sterile dressing and elastic headband worn continuously for ten to twelve days; a softer elastic headband is then worn at night for a further three to four weeks to protect the repositioned cartilage during sleep. No hair washing during the dressing period. Physical contact sports are avoided for four weeks. Sutures are removed at days seven to ten.