Cosmetic Surgery to Correct Stahl’s Ears (Pointed Ears)

The condition of Stahl’s ears is a congenital malformation of the ear. The upper portion of the ear is pointed, rather than round. It is a relatively common hereditary condition and can happen to one or both ears.

People who have pointed ears often get a variety of rude comments and jokes, including comparisons to the elves in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy; Mr. Spock, the Vulcan science officer on the famous original Star Trek television series; or even to satyrs, which are half men, half goat demigods in Greek mythology. Such comparisons can be particularly cruel when directed against children with this type of ear deformity.

Many prospective patients (or their parents) have concerns and questions about what can be done to correct Stahl’s ears. Below, our staff provides some general information that answers most general questions about the surgical procedure to round off the tops of the ears. If you have pointed ears, contact our team at Jefferson Plastic Surgery about your ear surgery treatment options.

Surgical Procedures to Correct Stahl’s Ears

The surgical procedure is simple and can easily be done on an outpatient basis. A local anesthetic can be used for adults, and the downtime is minimal (usually just a few days).

There are two basic procedures used to correct pointed ears. One method removes the excess cartilage at the tops of the ears. The other procedure will round out the upper ears by using a series of internal sutures and resculpting the ears to a more desirable shape.

When Should My Child Undergo Surgery?

Infants up until the age of approximately six months can have their ears splinted to help them conform to a shape with a more rounded top. After that point, the cartilage is no longer flexible enough to make splinting a viable option.

For those children older than six months of age, our surgeons recommend that parents wait until the child is at least five years of age before having them undergo corrective surgery. By that time, the ears will have reached their full adult size and shape, but it will be just before they should enter kindergarten, which may spare children from being teased by classmates about the shape of their ears.

Another consideration is the type of anesthetic to be used. While adults and older children who can keep still for the surgical procedure can undergo treatment with a local anesthetic, our surgeons strongly recommend use of a general anesthetic for younger children. Parents may need to weigh the benefits of having their child undergo ear surgery before starting school against any potential pre-existing conditions, such as asthma or a congenital heart condition, which could rule out the use of a general anesthetic.

Although adults with pointed ears may not mind the comments they get, it is almost always much more difficult for children to cope with. Our staff encourages parents to discuss any concerns with their surgeon regarding ear surgery, so that we can work together to not only have a successful outcome from the surgery, but also reduce the child’s anxiety about undergoing the procedure.