Highlighting Elfing

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

What’s your point?

When it comes to defining beauty, ultimately we individually have our own opinions. Yes, there may be a general consensus but one woman’s “hot” is sometimes another woman’s “not.” For example, some ladies prefer a large posterior and get a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) while others want to keep their cheekiness to a minimum. Some women seek a large top-load and have breast augmentation or breast implants. And others think more than a handful is too much.

Have you heard of elf ears? Think of the top cartilage in your ear. It’s usually rounded but not always. Roughly 7-10% of the population are automatically “blessed” with elfish ears, a congenital ear deformity known as Stahl’s ear where the ear has an extra fold or crease in its cartilage.

To prevent the precious babies from the unavoidable harassment of their little peers in school, parents opt to have their infants’ naturally pointy ears manipulated while the cartilage is young and pliable. Intervening in the first 1-2 months of life ensures the ears will grow and develop into a round, more socially accepted shape.

If only they could see into the future where their children would actually prefer the sharper image they were born with. Elf ears are recently gaining popularity in China and other Asian countries. Patients - mostly female - believe protruding ears make their faces appear smaller and thinner, more youthful and more energetic. Chinese culture historically believes that protruding ears are a symbol of good luck.

Whether you’re looking to seem younger, thinner, lucky or like a Lord of the Rings cast member, you’ve come to the right place to learn about how to become less of the well-rounded person you presently are. This isn’t your momma’s otoplasty.

This article is the twenty-first in a series highlighting some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. In the Highlighting series, we tell you ALL the alternative names of the surgery so you learn the medical terminology as well as develop a little street cred with slang terms. We share a little history of the procedure and describe the general process. We mention possible complications and give you an idea of the typical recovery time.

Also known as/similar or related names are: Cartilage, elf ears, hyaluronic acid, silicone, Stahl’s ear.

First recorded

Apparently it is difficult to accurately document plastic surgery procedures when they arise from a social media trend. Who posted it first? Did you check Instagram AND Facebook for timestamps? Or was it in a Reel you saw during your late night scrolling?

Several articles published online have stated that patients were born in the early 2000’s and have been requesting this procedure for roughly 5-7 years. There is no clear article outlining who performed the first elf ear surgery, on whom or where and why. It is likely to have originated in China but accessing this data is harder than using Google on the Mainland.

General process

One way to make those ears really pop is hyaluronic fluid injections. This is the most common and easiest method, where your medical professional injects hyaluronic fluid into the ears at specific, targeted areas to create a pointy appearance. Hyaluronic acid generally lasts approximately 12 months.

You can also get more permanent results with more detailed plastic surgery, where the cartilage is incised and resewn in a pointed shape. Or you can opt for a silicone or additional cartilage implant. Surgeons can wedge a piece of cartilage behind the ear to prop it forward in addition to adding cartilage to the parts of the ear where points are desired.

What could go wrong?

Complications that may occur include:

• Infection - a common complication that can be easily avoided with logical, diligent hygiene.
• Embolism - a skilled and careful practitioner will avoid this complication by avoiding blood vessels when injecting the acid. Make sure you have done your research and selected a competent surgeon.
• Extensive pain and swelling - if large amounts of hyaluronic acid are injected at once, you and your ears will suffer, albeit temporarily.

What could go right?

Playfully brush your hair back behind those ears and think of:

• Improved self confidence - your reflection will truly reflect how you want to be seen. Your new ears may make you feel like you appear more youthful.
• Improved reactions - could be your own impression or the impression you make on others but there will be new reactions on-sight.
• Improved hearing - the further your ears protrude from your head, the more sound they will naturally capture.

Recovery time

Recovering from filler injections is typically much faster than healing from incisions and sutures.

The last stitch

We’re all out here trying to be happy. For some people, ab-solute joy is found in a tight core. One tummy tuck/abdominoplasty and they’re set. Plastic surgery patients are entitled to the freedom to chase their dream bodies, whether that happens via 360 liposuction or BBL, face lift, fat graft or dermal filler.

If pointy ears will help you be your best s-elf, we hear you!