Otoplasty / Ear Pinning

Otoplasty, also referred to as ear pinning, repositions the ears closer to the head to lessen prominence of the ears. This requires an incision behind the ear, which removes excess skin. Through this incision, the cartilage of the ear can be positioned closer to the skull and reshaped to create more definition to the natural folds of the ear. The results are instant and the recovery time is about one week. There is generally limited swelling and bruising with this procedure.

Insurance often covers this office visit and procedure. Call us for details.

Otoplasty can be performed at any time after the age of 6 years. At this point, a child’s ears are about 90% of their adult size. It is also a good time for surgery from a psychological standpoint. By correcting the prominent ears, they can avoid the teasing that is so common from school age children. For those who have not had their prominent ears corrected as a child, it is easy to do ear pinning (otoplasty) as an adult. Children would require general anesthesia where as adults can do this with local anesthesia and light sedation. A bulky dressing is worn for 24 hours after surgery. After the first day, a dressing is usually not required; however, headbands are worn at night to prevent inadvertent bending of the ears during sleeping. Recovery time is about one week.