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During the past year 2016, almost 50% of the Plastic Surgery interventions in minors that I performed were otoplasties or surgery of the ears in loop or protruding ears. 10% corresponded to gynecomastia and 15% to breast surgery in adolescents. The rest corresponded to surgery to remove skin lesions, burns, craniofacial malformations and vascular malformations, among others.
Otoplasties
For many specialists, including myself, protruding ear operations are not simply aesthetic, as it has been shown to cause real psychological suffering due to teasing in children during their school years. We perform this surgery at around 6 years of age, which is when the ear has reached approximately 80-90% of the size it will have in adulthood, although this figure may vary due to factors such as the degree of development of the child. Surgery in children is performed under general anesthesia and after a few hours of observation, the patient is discharged.
Breast surgery in adolescents
Regarding breast surgery, we perform lipofilling (filling with the patient’s own fat) in cases of congenital malformations of the breast such as tuberous breasts, Poland’s syndromes, large asymmetries, etc. We perform this type of surgery as long as the adolescent has reached her final stage of development (Tanner V). The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and patients are discharged the following day.
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is the appearance of breasts in a male. During adolescence, it can arise and if it remains for at least one year, it is amenable to surgery after an ultrasound and a recommendation from the endocrinologist. Adolescents affected by gynecomastia avoid showering with their peers after gym class, going to swimming pools or the beach, etc., which greatly hinders social relations and the proper development of self-esteem. The surgery consists of a liposuction associated with a removal of the mammary gland through small incisions barely visible in the area of the areola, is performed under general anesthesia and the patient is discharged the next day.
Note on Plastic Surgery in children
In order to perform these surgeries, parental consent is required in addition to an adequate pre-operative and pre-anesthetic evaluation, but it is from the age of 16 when an adolescent can be operated if a psychologist evaluates through a report an adequate psychological maturity. We are the specialists in plastic surgery and it is our responsibility to guide underage patients regarding the possible treatments and the convenience of performing them before or wait for the complete development of the child or adolescent.
Send me your questions about Plastic Surgery in children.
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