Perspective. It is a word that we hear often, but perhaps we still fail to realize how much the concept shades our life. It is how we gauge and interpret the world around us, relative to our own point of view.
What is the right body, the right size? Why is it that one body part might be a perfect fit for one person's body, but not be the right fit for another body? And more importantly, how do these misaligned body parts affect our function.
The first area to look at when it comes to perspective on the human body is the ear. For those suffering from microtia (or literally, 'small ear', a congenital deformity of the outer ear area), perspective is a painful day to day truth that must be constantly confronted.
In some cases, this organ may only be slightly smaller than is normal for that face size, but may maintain the same general look and structures that we know as the ears. In more extreme cases, those suffering from microtia may have nothing that could be recognized as an outer ear.
Microtia can adversely affect a person's health in a number of different ways. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, it may negatively affect one's ability to hear and process sounds.
While the inner ear may be entirely intact and functional, the small size of the outer may greatly affect how sound enters the organ. If the microtia is only present on one side, this may affect a person's sense of sound and direction. In severe cases, it can even affect a person's balance.
Less severely but no more relevant, microtia may affect the usage of eye glasses and headphones. In some cases, this minor annoyance can be a great hindrance when trying to make your way in the world today, where different technologies are designed exclusively for people with proportionately normal sized and shaped outer ears.
Microtia is also extremely serious when considering how small ears can affect the rest of the face and head. It can affect how the jaw opens and closes, creating long term problems. Also, the flow of blood to the area can occasionally be affected, resulting in long term heart problems.
Most obviously, it is also a concern when examining the patient's appearance. Aside from deformities, microtia may affect how the rest of the face and head look. Small ears may make other parts of the face appear larger than they actually are.
Fortunately, there is hope. In plastic surgery for microtia, trained doctors can resculpt and resize the ear to fit your needs and overall appearance. Using either existing cartilage, bone grafts from other parts of the body, or synthetic structures, plastic surgeons can create a new ear that will restore hearing and improve the look of the face.
If you or someone you love is suffering from microtia, do not wait another day. Consult with your doctor and find a local plastic surgeon in your area who can give you life changing microtia plastic surgery.
