Ear surgery for children...?

[parkers]

Hi,

My daughter has exceptionally large ears that stick out...
We have obviously never said anything to her about it but realise that as she gets older other kids will start picking on her due to this..
We have always said that we will wait until she says something about it before we look into her having them pinned back..
Whilst on holiday last week she said completely out of the blue that she hates her ears as they stick out and she wishes that they were like mine.
So I told her that there is a little operation that she can have where they can pin them back so they don't stick out..
I told her that it would cause her a bit of pain and that she would have to have a bandage on her head for a couple of weeks.. she said fine...
I know from an ex-colleague that the child will have to tell the GP that they want it doing - not the parent..
She is nearly 9 and is such a pretty girl, so we know that this will benefit her greatly..
Is this an operation that is done on the NHS or will we have to pay for it?

[fine,thanks]

its performed regularly on the nhs

[4getmenot]

dont let wingnut know

[Octavius]

Otoplasty is generally available on the NHS for children under the age of 16. For adults, an NHS otoplasty may be available for significant ear deformity or ear asymmetry. However, prominent ear correction in adults is deemed to be cosmetic surgery and is not available on the NHS.

[parkers]

Exactly 4getmenot - this is what she would be called amongst other things !

Thanks fine,thanks - some people have said that it is cruel to put her through this 1. We waitied until she said something about it and 2. It would be worse for her to be picked on..!

[4getmenot]

Dont worry my ears are big, its alot better for females we can grow our hair. Thank god I wasnt born a boy

[Cockney_si]

My ears used to stick out as a child and they grew normally when I got older.

I think it's common for children to have ears that stick out when young.

Would you really want them to go through lots of pain and suffering physically as well as getting taunted at school?

[4getmenot]

when people called me big ears I used to say ok lets measure and I'd usually find theirs were bigger its just mine were more pointy

[parkers]

Hers are very big - bigger than mine and the gap between her head and her ears is huge - that is how the Dr's determine whether they should have it done..
My sister bitterly regrets not having her's done as she hates her ears but can't afford to have it done..

There will not be 'lots of pain' it is more like mild discomfort, that will stop any taunting and bullying !

[Octavius]

Yes. Indeed. For the answer to all your otoplasty questions, see here:

http://www.rejuvenateuk.co.uk/Ear-Corrective-S urgery/

[4getmenot]

I dont quite get the gap between her head and ears is very large?? Are they not attached?? lol

[parkers]

4getmenot - you have just made me laugh out loud at my desk...!!

[jiggy-gb]

I think in the long run you're doing the right thing. Your daughter will most definitely thank you when she's older and can choose to have short hair if she wishes rather than being forced to have permanently long hair for a start. Once she gets to secondary school things can get cruel enough without actually having something to pick on too! A few days of being a bit sore with her parents there to love and comfort her is far better than 5 years of misery at school and scarring her for life emotionally.

[Cockney_si]

jiggy-gb - Surely even 'short hair' would cover a girls ears?

[4getmenot]

no my mum made me hack all mine off and I couldnt wait for it to grow back. Think hair as well is quite bad as they poke through. lucky I have thick hair. And parkers I may have made you laugh but you didnt explain what gap between her ears and head??