Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you had this physical 'quirk' would you try and rectify it? AIBU and superficial?

193 replies

EarryMcCleery · 16/08/2016 16:39

Firstly I am going to get these pictures deleted after a while as it's very embarrassing.

Ive always hated my ears. They are a weird shape. One is slightly better than the other as you can see from the pictures.

I debated for years before getting my ears pierced.

if you had these ears, would you seek correctional surgery?

Are they very unsightly?

I mostly wear my hair down.

Please be honest!

I wonder if this kind of surgery is even possible?

Thanks for reading.

I'm aware that there are more important things and that my hearing is perfect so I'm really lucky but... Sad

If you had this physical 'quirk' would you try and rectify it? AIBU and superficial?
If you had this physical 'quirk' would you try and rectify it? AIBU and superficial?
OP posts:
DelicatePreciousThing1 · 16/08/2016 20:33

Great news! Star

YourNewspaperIsShit · 16/08/2016 20:37

My exP, his DM and my DD all have ears with the top looking "cut off" and I wouldn't encourage surgery for any of them :) in fact I think they look cool to be honest, there's is more jagged and almost looks like something bitten the top off. Your ears are perfectly normal and so glad this thread has boosted your confidence a bit Smile

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 16/08/2016 20:38

They're fine. Leave them alone.

PacificDogwod · 16/08/2016 20:57

Oh, good! Smile

Save your money, and your lovely ears the risk of disfigurement.
Gawn, get them pierced, by some lovely jewellery and get them out there Grin

LyndaNotLinda · 16/08/2016 21:14

I had extensive surgery on one f my ears as I didn't have any curly bits in the middle and that affects your hearing. I was in theatre for 5 hours and had to wear a massive bandage round my head for about 6 weeks. And it really really hurt.

The skin is shiny and very obviously scar tissue and the cartilage shows whitely in the middle. Sometimes the ear gets very hot.

I also kind of wish it had been left alone.

My cousin has the same ear thing and hasn't had surgery. I think her ear looks much nicer than mine

wildcoffeeandbeans · 16/08/2016 21:14

I looked at the photos, then had to read your explanations of what to look for before I could see anything at all unusual about your ears. They're absolutely fine. You'll just have to trust us -- it's so easy to be self-conscious about things we're sure "everybody sees" but really, you have nothing to be insecure about!

wildcoffeeandbeans · 16/08/2016 21:14

Just saw your update. So glad to hear it!

Fluffsnuts · 16/08/2016 21:23

I suspect this is something that you notice WAAAAAAY more than others do. Took me ages to find anything 'wrong' with your pictures!

MapMyMum · 16/08/2016 21:26

I doubt anyone would notice, but if they did, it isnt something unsightly! You have really nice ears. Personally I think Id see about getting some counselling to do with body dismorphia rather than go for surgery...

RosieandJim89 · 16/08/2016 21:27

My left ear is a bit like this. A bit like a pixie ear.

MollyRedskirts · 16/08/2016 21:34

I've read your update, but wanted to add my photo.

These are mine. They don't match, as one has a curly fold of cartilage that the other doesn't. I love my odd ears, especially the curly one. I call it my fae or faery ear.

What makes me love them even more is that DS1 has the exact same non-curly ear as me, and his other ear is odd, but doesn't match mine. DS2 has matching ears in shape, but one is a good cm smaller, like it's been shrunk a little.

I love that we all have non-matching ears, it's like we're in a special club.

If you had this physical 'quirk' would you try and rectify it? AIBU and superficial?
Wigeon · 16/08/2016 21:36

Yet another one saying your ears look totally fine! Your right ear looks completely like any other ear to me. Having read the thread I still can't see anything in the least abnormal about it. Your left ear is a little bit flatter, I can see, but I am 100% sure I wouldn't notice IRL and have only noticed because you've posted a photo and have invited people to stare carefully at it.

I absolutely definitely wouldn't get surgery for it. Even your left ear, which is slightly different to your right, looks like a totally normal ear to me. I am sure you look lovely and can't believe anyone even notices your ears IRL.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 16/08/2016 21:37

< likes > Shiney's post at 18.10.

cornishglos · 16/08/2016 21:39

There is nothing wrong with your ears.

Umbreallboats · 16/08/2016 21:47

I think this is stealth ear boasting. Grin

OP your ears are very lovely!

ChuffMuffin · 16/08/2016 21:53

Eary Your ears are really pretty! Please don't feel self conscious about them, they are both lovely and most importantly they are you! My second and third toe on my left foot are normal, but on my right foot they are both the same length. My sister teases me (lightheartedly!) all the time about it and I laugh, I don't care, yeah my feet are different but they're me. If someone doesn't like them then that's their problem, not mine Smile.

I used to work in a solicitors that dealt with plastic surgery gone wrong, and trust me, I saw a fair few people who thought they had a problem, had surgery that went wrong, then had to have more corrective surgery, and sometimes even more.. most of the people said they wished they'd never had any surgery in the first place. Flowers.

PeppermintPasty · 16/08/2016 21:57

I genuinely can't see what you're on about. That wall however, meh.
Keep the ears, paint the wall Wink

midlifehope · 16/08/2016 21:58

oh please. your ears are fine and you're being shallow. My son has to wear hearing aids full time - try that on for size. These shallow posts piss me off. Angry

Sc00bysnax · 16/08/2016 22:03

I have heard this phrase used for "physical quirks"

"It is not the first thing that people notice about you"

Basically, we are all "a package" its not all about physical appearance, it is about who we are inside and what we believe in

Some people would say "love yourself"

I am sure you can find 1000s of people throughout history and today who have overcome their weaknesses physical or emotional

Be kind to yourself and to others

GinIsIn · 16/08/2016 22:07

Your ears are fine. I have been with my DH for 5 years. He's in the next room. I honestly couldn't tell you what shape his ears are - it's just not a feature people ever notice!

PookyHook · 16/08/2016 22:10

My right ear is very similar to your left ear. The bit at the top that is meant to fold over didn't develop, it looks like a piece has been sliced off and makes it slightly pointy.

The only time anyone has ever said anything to me about it was once in year 8 at school a girl suddenly exclaimed 'you have one elf ear and one normal ear!'.

I'm not in the slightest bit bothered about it and when I was a kid I loved having an elf ear.

Your ears are lovely, there is no need to do anything to them.

HelloSunshine11 · 16/08/2016 22:12

I feel for you because I feel similarly about my ears. My left is 'normal' but my right is the same as your right (no fold in the bowl at the top). If they were both like that I wouldn't mind, but as it is that one sticks out quite a lot and my left one doesn't. I have thought about surgery to fix it - there is an implant that creates a fold but it's quite new and I'd rather wait to see what the long term effects are like. The same thing can also be done with a stitch in the back of the ear.

BUT! I know I'm the only person who cares about it this much. Literally no one else gives a shit (as this thread has shown about yours, in a really good way!). So it seems bonkers to spend thousands fixing something which I am self conscious about but not to the extent that I can't leave the house.

I think we should make a pact to leave our ears alone. Yours look very pretty to me.

TroysMammy · 16/08/2016 22:13

Your ears are fine. My left ear is "normal" the top of my right ear looks like a chunk has been bitten out of it. Ear shape is unique it's a part of you, like eye colour and nose shape. It would be a funny world if we all looked the same.

Benedikte2 · 16/08/2016 22:18

Early. I have a family member who was born with microtia (small ear) which is not an uncommon condition where the ear fails to develop and the pinna or outer ear is very small (not ear shaped usually) or even non existent. Cosmetic surgery is quite a drama involving 2 or more ops and cartilage is taken from between the ribs and skin grafts from the buttocks. However a "normal" cannot be reconstructed because the whirls etc of an ear are so delicate and there is always the risk that the cartilage will collapse. An ear shape which will not attract too much notice is generally the best that can be achieved. I think most plastic surgeons would advise you that they cannot improve a great deal on what nature has provided you with. Possibly a skin graft along the top of your ear would help but not so easy on cartilage and the skin is sliced off your buttocks with an instrument a bit like a potato peeler and the donor site is much more painful than the actual graft. If the graft failed you could have an ear that looked as if it had been in an accident with scarring.
Fortunately others can usually see only one ear at a time so any discrepancy between ears goes unnoticed. Ears are so individual that they are a useful aid to identifying people from photographs.
Good luck whatever you decide

maisyanddaisy · 16/08/2016 22:25

How mean and unnecessary. If it pisses you off, don't look.
OP, I recently had my ears pinned back. After a lifetime of hating my ears I became a bit obsessed with other peoples- and I can assure you I'd have LOVED yours! Glad you've decided not to go down the surgery route. Now wear your hair up woman!

Swipe left for the next trending thread