A 7-year old South Dakota girl, who has been a victim of bullying because her ears stick out, underwent an otoplasty – plastic surgery to reshape and pin back the outer ear. Samantha Roselle’s mother told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that the surgical procedure was chosen as a preventative measure, to stop the bullying.

Cami Roselles, Samantha’s mom, said “Kids are mean. That’s just how they are.”

The operation, which lasted two-and-a-half hours, was successful, according to Dr. Steven Pearlman, the surgeon who performed the operation. He told ABC “Her ears look great!”

Otoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure aimed at reconstructing deformities or correcting defects of the pinna (outer ear).

Surgery may be performed to:

  • Correct an underdeveloped pinna (microtia)
  • Deal with an absent pinna (anotia)
  • Reduce disproportionate ears
  • Bring the ear (pinna) closer to the head, known as ear pinback. This is what Samantha had done.

The surgeon moves, reshapes and/or augments the pinna’s cartilage structure which has a covering of very thin skin.

An Otoplasty is typically done by a(n):

  • Oro-maxilofacial surgeon – surgeon who specializes in the mouth, jaw and face
  • Plastic surgeon
  • Otolaryngologist – ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist

According to the UK Department for Children, Schools and Families, bullying is:

“Behavior by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group, either physically or emotionally.”

Bullying can include:

  • Teasing
  • Spreading rumors, gossiping
  • Physically pushing someone around
  • Physically hurting someone
  • Name calling
  • Kicking
  • Removing or messing with a person’s belongings
  • Writing or drawing offensive graffiti
  • Excluding people from groups
  • Threatening
  • Taking pocket money or lunch money
  • Putting somebody on Coventry (UK expression, means to give the person the “silent treatment”, nobody talks to them)

Source: ABC, Fox News, Medical News Today archives, UK Department for Children, Schools and Families

Written by Christian Nordqvist