Otoplasty


Otoplasty, AKA ear pinning, reshapes one or both of the ears. Cosmetic ear surgery can include a reduction of the ears/earlobes and the removal of excess cartilage and skin. Otoplasty is typically performed on children ages 4-14 and adults who did not have the surgery as a child to make the ears less prominent or misshapen. Otoplasty cuts out the cartilage or folds and stitches the cartilage rather than cutting it. Either way, the surgeon makes a small cut at the back of the ear to access the cartilage. Otoplasty can reshape one, or both, ears which is known as bilateral otoplasty. Ear reduction surgery removes unwanted skin and cartilage to make a smaller and more natural look.

Candidates for otoplasty are often children teased by others about the size and shape of their ears and adults who lack self-esteem and self-confidence thanks to the size and appearance of their ears that were not fixed as a child. Children often have the surgery around the ages of 6 or 7 when their ears have developed to a size that is somewhat close to an adult. There is no age limit for adults.

The average cost of otoplasty is in the range of $3000-$7000. This price does not include any surgeon’s fees, surgical facility fees or anesthesia fees. The price can vary depending on the technique used, the amount of work that needs to be performed and the geographic location of the surgery.

There will be some bruising and swelling after the surgery. In general, the ears will look better after 2 or 3 weeks but it takes almost a year for the final results to be obtained by the patient. Once the final results are achieved, they should last a lifetime.

Otoplasty

Otoplasty

submitted on   Wed Dec, 30, 2015 by Robert Troell, MD     
Otoplasty, also known as ear pinning, is a surgical procedure that corrects ear defects or deformities that are present from birth or are the result of an injury or previous surgery. The complexity of the surgery depends on the patient’s anatomical concerns. Some cases are simple and easy to...