Ear Pinning

Otoplasty and ear pinning can improve the shape, position, or proportion of your or your child’s ears, and help prominent ears lie more closely to your head. Ears can also be reconstructed, repositioned, and made more symmetrical, to correct disfigurements due to an injury or congenital abnormality.

Who is it for?

Healthy children over the age of four, and adults who have overly large, protruding, or misshapen ears.

What is treatment like?

You’ll have general anesthesia, and incisions will be made on the back of the ear, or in a way that will hide scars within the folds of the ear. Cartilage will be reshaped and secured with permanent internal sutures. Recovery time is only a few days, but you will need to wear a headband over your ears for 7-10 days and avoid any physical activity that may result in a hit to the ears for 6-8 weeks.

What are the risks?

All surgeries carry risks for medical complications, which your surgeon will discuss with you. You may have a temporary or permanent change in skin sensitivity. Don’t take aspirin, Advil, fish oil, or other blood thinners for two weeks leading up to surgery, to avoid excessive bleeding.

What are the results?

In the case of an ear pinning, most of your swelling will subside within a month, and you’ll have a good idea of what your result will be. It may take up to a full year for your ears to settle into their final shape.