Otoplasty or ear pinning is a procedure which will correct prominent ears.  It is a excellent procedure with profound psychological effects. 

Because the ear is about 95% adult size by 4 to 5 years of age, this is the ideal time to perform the surgery.  This will eliminate the taunting these children undergo when they enter school.  The comments about "dumbo ears" may be so frequent that the child withdraws from social events, no longer wishes to go to school and suffers academically. 

More often than not the parents are unaware of the extent of teasing. 

Correcting the ear

Otoplasty generally consists of correcting two areas causing the ears to stick out. 

Most individuals will need to have excessive cartilage removed from the ear which allows the ear to sit closer to the scalp.

The second problem is the lack of a ridge, called the antihelical fold. This the ridge just inside the rim of the ear is fashioned by cutting, scoring or suturing parts of the ear cartilage. 

You can see in the bottom two photographs showing a side profile the effects of these two maneuvers on this young girl.

About the procedure

General anesthesia: Preferred
Operating time: 1 to 2 hours
Aftercare: Bandages are worn around the head for 5 days to hold the newly shaped ear
Unrestricted activities after 4 weeks

Additional ear deformities

Microtia, a rudimentary ear is not nearly as common and it's correction is much more involved.  Typically, there are only remnants of the ear and it will take several operations to build the new ear.  

These operations will involve fashioning an ear framework, usually from rib cartilage, moving and/or grafting skin to correct an insufficiency and repositioning the ear.

Lop ear, constricted ear or excessive cupping near the top of the ear may require additional techniques to cut, add cartilage or remove abnormal cartilage and to add additional skin.

Other more minor deformities can exist including tags of skin with or without cartilage embedded in front of the ear.

For Otoplasty, Ear Pinning or Ear Contouring to correct prominent ears Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Calabasas, Camarillo, Ventura, Beverly Hills Style visit our Thousand Oaks office. Christopher Costanzo MD a Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon trained at the world famous Mayo Clinic performs Otoplasty, Ear Pinning or Ear Contouring to correct prominent ears Beverly Hills Style for individuals in Southern California, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Granada Hills, West Hills, Malibu, Calabasas,Agoura, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles County, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County. For Otoplasty, Ear Pinning or Ear Contouring to correct prominent ears Beverly Hills Style surgery call.