Otoplasty, or surgery to correct protruding ears, can be performed at almost any age though the surgery is most often performed on children at age five or six when the ear has reached full development. Adult ear surgery is not only possible, but very successful.

Otoplasty is especially helpful in preventing psychological trauma when the ears are corrected before the child starts school.

By reshaping the cartilage and repositioning the ears, a more natural looking ear is obtained. The incisions are placed behind the ear and the scars are virtually invisible. Ear surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. If a child is young, general anesthesia may be used so the child will sleep through the surgery. For older patients, local anesthesia combined with a sedative will be used.

After surgery, a gauze bandage is worn overnight and a head band is used at night for 2 weeks so the ears will heal in their new position. Stitches are usually removed in about a week.

Most adults will be able to return to work after about five days; children can go back to school after about a week.

For more information on otoplasty (ear surgery), click here.