Cosmetic Ear Surgery

Otoplasty and Pinnaplasty

Model. Not actual patient.

The Benefits of Cosmetic Ear Surgery

No matter what kind of hairstyle you have, it's pretty much impossible to hide your ears if they're overly prominent, asymmetrical or are oddly shaped. Whether from birth, trauma or general aging, cosmetic ear surgery is designed to reshape and resize your ears so that they're more proportionately balanced with the rest of your appearance.

Ear deformities negatively impact the self esteem of children and adults alike. Even though ear correction, also known as otoplasty, is often performed on children, adults may also benefit from having the surgery for the same reasons:

being able to wear whatever hairstyle you'd like without worrying about how your ears look
being able to speak to someone without your ears distracting them
enjoying a renewed sense of self confidence
no longer having to worry about your ears being your most memorable feature

The goal that most of our patients have is to make their ears less noticeable, so they "blend in".

Are You a Candidate for Ear Surgery?

If you don't like how your ears look and are generally healthy, ear correction surgery may be suitable for you. Our patients range in age from 5 years old to those who are well into adulthood. (Just because you're an adult, it doesn't mean that you can't do anything about your prominent ears!)

The following issues can be corrected with the procedure:

ears that stick out too far from the head
pointed ears (also known as Stahl's ear or "pixie" and "Spock" ears)
an underdeveloped outer ear (microtia)
an enlarged ear (macrotia)
an upper ear that is partially buried (cryptotia)
ears that are flattened out or constricted
enlarged, elongated or misshapen earlobes
damaged earlobes, such as those that have tears

FIND OUT IF YOU CAN GET OTOPLASTY

Model. Not actual patient.

The Ear Correction Surgery

The procedure is a delicate one that requires careful attention to the unique structure of the ear. It requires meticulousness and precision — what our plastic surgeons are renowned for!

Cosmetic ear surgery is typically done on an outpatient basis at our private surgical facility. For minor changes or modifications to the lobes or one ear, local anesthesia may be administered. For more extensive corrections, general anesthesia is administered.

For pinnaplasty (setting back the ears to reduce projection) an incision may be made behind the ear and sutures placed.

To address the shape of the upper part of the ear or the earlobes, smaller incisions may be made on the visible side, along the rims or edges.

Incisions are closed and bandages placed. These bandages may be removed in about a week or so. A supportive garment around the ears may also be placed for additional protection in the early stages of recovery.

Although an immediate improvement may be visible, swelling and bruising may hide results. Wait until these go away over the next few weeks and months before assessing your results.