Are Big Ears Hereditary?
When it comes to genetic traits, there are good ones and bad ones. Expectant parents may hope to pass on her blue eyes or his fast metabolism, but they may also hope to not pass on her allergies or his big ears. Unfortunately, big ears can be inherited, but their appearance can be surgically improved. Otoplasty can correct and normalize the appearance of the ears to improve facial balance and attractiveness.
Understanding Genetic Traits
Genetic traits are characteristics that are passed down from generation to generation. Every individual has a unique set of genes that determine everything about how the body looks and functions. All of your genes came from your biological parents, which is why family members tend to look alike. However, because there is incredible variation in genetic makeups, you and your siblings could still be quite different. Even if you have 10 siblings, you could be the only one to inherit your mother’s blue eyes. Genes also come in pairs, and if one is dominant, it will override the other. This is why brown eyes are more common than blue eyes— brown eyes are a dominant gene.
Every person will inherit genes from their parents that affect the shape, size, and prominence of their ears. It is not uncommon to see large, protruding ears passed down from parent to child. Prominent ears affect only one or two percent of the human population, which means that affected individuals may stick out in a crowd due to the unusual appearance and size of their ears.
Otoplasty for Large Ears
Large ears can offset facial balance, sometimes so profoundly that the ears are the first thing you notice about the person. Children, especially, are not always understanding of physical differences, which means that many children who inherit big ears might be teased, ridiculed, and bullied by their peers. As a result, these children may become self-conscious and develop psychological or emotional issues. Adults with large ears, even if they are well-adjusted, may find that the size of their ears affects their quality of life. Big ears can be off-putting to potential romantic partners and may also affect other social and work opportunities. By undergoing this procedure, it may aid in self-confidence in your work and personal life.
Otoplasty is one of the plastic surgery procedures that can be performed on children or adults to improve the appearance of the ears. Candidates as young as six or seven who have stable ear cartilage and realistic expectations can undergo a simple surgery to correct this genetic abnormality. In addition to ear size, otoplasty can also correct ear protrusion, deformities, and shape. The results of otoplasty are permanent and can profoundly improve the appearance of your ears.
Just because you inherited your parent’s big ears doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with them forever. Otoplasty can reduce ear size and improve facial balance to give you a more attractive and natural-looking appearance. Our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Conrad would be pleased to perform your otoplasty procedure and help you achieve your aesthetic goals. To learn more about this procedure, call (316) 681-2227 or complete our online contact form today.
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