Ear correction surgery (otoplasty) is a procedure that corrects deformities of the external ear. It is used most often when the ears stick out too far or appear to be too large for the head.
Fast Facts
- If only one ear protrudes both ears are altered in order to ensure they balance.
- The surgery usually takes about an hour.
- You’ll have to sleep on your back for a week so you don’t put any pressure on your ears.
Absolutely anyone with prominent ears is a candidate for this procedure.
Reasons for choosing to have ear correction surgery
Ear correction surgery is a very common procedure and can involve various types of re-shaping of the external ear. The two most common procedures either brings the ears closer to the head (commonly called ear pinning), or makes the ears smaller by reconstruction. Because ears are one of the first parts of the body to develop to their full adult size from a very early age, this is a procedure that can be performed on children as young as 5 years old.
Often children are teased for having protruding ears. Adults might find it awkward to wear glasses or hats and feel reluctant to wear their hair up. If you genuinely dislike the way your ears look, this is a relatively uncomplicated procedure worth considering.
Things to consider once you’ve decided to have ear correction surgery
You must keep in mind that while ears are a prominent feature of the head and face, changing them will not necessarily alter your overall appearance. After the procedure, people may not even notice that your ears have changed at all.
If only one ear protrudes both ears are altered in order to ensure they balance.
What to expect
The length of time needed to perform this operation largely depends on the complexity of your ears. If the surgeon has a lot of ‘pinning’ to do, the operation will take more time. The surgery usually takes about an hour. Traditionally, an incision is made just behind the ear. Excess skin and cartilage is removed, and the ear is reattached. Often no skin or cartilage is removed, and the ears are simply stitched to the skin with small sutures.
Most ear correction operations are performed on an outpatient basis, which means you will more than likely be sent home a couple of hours after recovering from the effects of anaesthesia.
Before and after surgery
There are a number of things you can do leading up to any kind of surgery to improve the experience. There are also a number of things you can do following any surgery.
Specific things to do after your ear correction surgery:
- Your surgeon may have given you instruction such as wearing a headband for a week or two in order to keep your ears held back. Make sure to do this.
- You’ll have to sleep on your back for a week so that you don’t put any pressure on your ears.
Swelling and bruising are common after surgery, but they should start to disappear after a few days. Itching is also common as nerve endings are inevitably cut. This will resolve as the nerves regenerate. You will have a thin white scar behind your ear, which will be almost undetectable.
You should expect to be back to work and most normal activities a few days after ear correction surgery. Aerobic activities can be resumed after about 3 weeks.
Possible risks and complications
The risks associated with having an ear correction procedure are quite rare. However as with all surgery, complications can still sometimes occur.
The best way to reduce risk is to find a fully qualified surgeon with formal training in otoplasty who has performed a lot of otoplasty surgery.
Make sure you familiarise yourself with the full list of complications that could arise as a result of any surgery.
Specific complications that may occur after ear correction surgery:
- Numbness, tightness and sensitivity of the ear area will be present immediately after the surgery and usually returns to normal after a maximum of 1 month.
- Broken sutures can result in the ears returning to their original position.
Rough costs involved
Your surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital costs will vary, however, a rough indication on how much this procedure usually costs is somewhere between $4000 and $5000 (AUD). Some private health insurers in Australia may help with hospital bed and theatre fees. Having a doctor’s referral will enable you to claim some of the cost.
You should expect the costs to be higher if you are having combined procedures at the same time.
This information is correct as of 2019.
Hi I’m interested in getting a price for otoplasty. Could someone please contact me. Thank you.
I’d like to enquire about otoplasty
Hi, my parents had my ears pulled back when I was about 5. I wonder about the ethics of this. I was not involved in the decision and even so how can a child make sense of being told they need surgery for something cosmetic, deemed as needing correction. I remember having a kid tease me in the hospital after my surgery about my bandages and I honestly cpusn6exain to him why I had them except that it was for my ears. 30 years later and I’m just wondering about this whole culture of saying our body parts are wrong. I feel for my parents as I think k they thought they were doing a kind thing for me but I all honesty i find it really sad that they felt to spends thousands of dollars for their little child to have this operation out of a cosmetic fear which all stemmed from a doctor telling my parents ‘do you realise she had bat ears. I wanted to share this incase it provides another perspective to to anyone considering getting this operation for a non consenting child/minor that is still growing into themselves.
I was a parent that thought that it could be her choice later if she wanted it. Now I have a 10 year old that has been traumatised by bullying. I wish I did it for her at the age of 5 so she never had to be hurt so much.
The issue about parenting is your dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t.
Count your blessings mate, thank your parents for their “ethics”
I wish my parents had the money to have made my ears smaller when I was a child. Being teased about the size of your ears forever far outweighs what was said to you in hospital once. I still wear a hairstyle that covers my ears and I’m nearly 64. If I had the money now I would do the surgery. I can assure you that you would have been traumatised by the names you would have been called if your parents did not do it. You should be very grateful and thank them.
How much will it cost to have ear reconstruction (Make them smaller to be exact)
Ear
Hello enquiring on cauliflower ear rectification for left ear. My right ear is normal and will not need to be touched just rhe left. A deformity caused from playing with my ear during primary school.
Wanting to know the best surgeon in Sydney to have my daughters ears pinned back
How much to get my ears pinned back
Hi Johannah, the surgery costs around $4000 – $5000 AUD depending on the surgeon you choose. Some patients qualify for a medicare rebate which means you get some money back from medicare and if you have private health insurance, your anaesthetist and hospital costs may be mostly or fully paid for. Sometimes after rebates and private health your total out of pocket is less than $4000.
Is your clinic taking on new patients?
Hey, I’m from Solomon islands and I was wondering about how I can come to Australia to get an ear correction surgery, I’ve always been kinda ashamed of my ear . I was always teased in elementary up to now and I want to be able to tie my hair up without being teased .
Hi,I’m M.m my ears very big,I can’t speak english, I coming au tow years, me very sad for face and ears,my husband i will make fun of me laughs and I always cry and I do not have no money to operate after a life-ears and hair hide behind scarves.I forgot myself and my daughter just like me and I’m sad for her always
Hey!
Since I was a child I have always been teased about my prominent ears, I am now 18 however. I have stretched both my ears to 20mm and grown my hair just to help hide them and I was wondering if ear surgery is possible with stretched ears? And regardless do methods involving taping your ears back such work? And if so do they provide permanent results or do you have to use them for the rest of your life?
Sorry about the bombardment of questions,
cheers.
Hi I’m 16 years old and my parents have always supported the idea of me getting my ears pinned back I just never really took it into consideration! My ears have always stuck out and in primary school I got teased and it has stuck with me and now I’m very self conscious! I just want to be able to wear my hair back and not worry about them all the time!
Do you think it is worth it ? Because I have heard there is a lot of pain involved ?
Hi Ebony,
Thanks for your question. Since you’re self-conscious about how your ears look, ear pinning surgery may be right for you. As for whether it is worth it, this is a question only you can decide. Many patients have found this surgical correction of an issue that’s always bothered them to be well worth it. While there are some side effects such as bruising, tenderness, and itching, these are temporary, and usually resolve in less than a week.
hi im interested in otoplasty
i have been thinking about gettin it done since i was little i am 23 years old now
and was wondering how i would be able to pay for the costs involved are there any payment plans which i can take?
Hi Jodie,
Thanks for your question! Yes, many surgeons do offer payment plans. The options vary from doctor to doctor. We advise you to bring up this question during the consultation session so that you can learn more about the payment options that your surgeon may offer.
Hey, I would like to help my 11yo get her ears pinned back. What is the first step? Can I get anything back from medicare if its purely cosmetic?
Hey,
My ears are middle sized and one is bigger than the other,
one is like folled and thats the normal looking ear than theres this flipped one thats 6cm and its masive what do I do 🙁