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    Otoplasty

    Otoplasty: Ear Reshaping Surgery

    Otoplasty is a surgical procedure that reshapes and repositions the ears to create better harmony with facial features in patients over age 5.

    A patient may desire otoplasty to:

    • Correct congenital abnormalities including protruding ears, asymmetry, and various ear shape concerns
    • Correct ears damaged by trauma

    Enhance facial aesthetics

    • Ear Pinning: brings ears closer to the sides of the head and reshapes malformed cartilage
    • Ear Reduction: removes excess tissue to make ears smaller and/or balanced in size and shape
    • Ear Augmentation: increases the outer portion of the ear using cartilage and/or tissue grafts to make ears larger and/or balanced in size and shape

    What happens during ear reshaping surgery?

    The specific surgical steps depend on the type of otoplasty. Surgery averages between one and three hours. Recovery involves the use of temporary ear bandages with possible pain, bleeding, and swelling with full resolution of most symptoms within six to eight weeks.