Ear Surgery

Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is typically performed to set prominent ears back closer to the head, or to reduce the size of large ears. The problem is most often related to a flat cartilage of the outer ear, or to a prominent cartilage cup. In both cases, the cartilage will be moulded into a new and more desirable form. 

Corrections may also involve improvements to skin and earlobes. Scars are placed in folds behind the ear or within the ear cup itself, and are designed to fade quickly and be inconspicuous.

Candidates for ear surgery

If the problem is recognized shortly after birth, it is usually sufficient to treat the condition conservatively with a splint or ear mould. However, after 6 months the cartilage will have stiffened and surgical correction remains the only option. Most ear corrections are done between the ages of 8 to 30 years, but there is no actual limit for surgery.