Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

If your ears stick out more than you’d like, are uneven or disproportionate, or droop too low, ear surgery (otoplasty) may be just the plastic surgery procedure you need to reshape one or both of your ears.

Otoplasty also includes ear or earlobe reduction and cauliflower ear surgery to recontour surplus skin and cartilage.

Because ears are conspicuous, correction of even minor deformities can improve appearance and boost confidence and self-esteem.

Performed as an Outpatient Surgery

There are various cosmetic ear surgery techniques available at Kelsey-Seybold, each based on what kind of correction is needed. Surgery typically begins with an incision in the natural crease behind the ear. Excess skin is removed, and the cartilage is reshaped to achieve the desired orientation and contour.

After surgery, the ears are bandaged in soft dressings for a few days and then replaced with a specialized headband to wear at night for several weeks. Normal daily routines can usually be resumed after about a week, with strenuous activity limited until three or four weeks post-surgery.

Otoplasty is performed with sedation and either local or general anesthesia, depending on the procedure. Surgery generally takes between one to two hours, depending on the procedure.

Am I a Good Candidate for Otoplasty?

Men, women, and children (usually 6 or older) in good health and with realistic expectations are typically considered good candidates for ear plastic surgery. Discomfort is generally minimal, and recovery time is often relatively quick.

The Benefits of Ear Surgery

There are numerous benefits to having ear surgery, besides boosting confidence and self-esteem, including:

• It can correct a variety of imperfections
• Downtime is minimal – about a week
• There’s little scarring once healed
• Results are natural looking

Additional information is available from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Ear Lobe Repairs

While not a plastic surgery procedure, torn or split ear lobes due to trauma or long-term use of heavy earrings can be repaired by Kelsey-Seybold dermatologists.

Ear lobe repair is a simple 15- to 20-minute outpatient procedure. After removing the damaged portion of the skin, small sutures are placed to bring the skin together. Depending on the type of suture used, you may have to return for suture removal.