Otoplasty: Boost Your Confidence With Cosmetic Ear Surgery 

Very few people want their first impression—or their most prominent feature—to be their ears. And growing up or living with protruding, large, or oddly shaped ears can be a distraction at best and a self-esteem killer at worst. The good news is that you or your loved one are not stuck with ears that draw attention or sap confidence. In fact, otoplasty, also known as ear pinning or cosmetic ear surgery, is a relatively simple procedure that can make your ears less noticeable permanently. 

At Gallatin Valley Surgical Arts, our team understands that this many times subtle fix can make a world of difference for our patients—and guide them with care through each stage of the consultation, procedure, and recovery. 

Are You A Good Candidate For Otoplasty? 

You may be a good candidate for otoplasty if: 

• You feel your ears are too big for your face.
• You feel that your ears protrude from your head too much. 
• Your ears are not symmetrical. 
• Your ear or ears are oddly shaped due to genetics. 
• Your ear or ears were altered in an accident. 
• Your ears prevent you from wearing your hair in certain styles or prevent you from wearing certain accessories. 
• You have trouble using ear-related items like earbuds or headphones. 
• You feel your ears draw too much attention or distract people from your face. 

You may not be a good candidate for otoplasty if you have health issues that prevent cosmetic surgery, if you are a heavy smoker, or if you are unwilling to follow the post-op recovery plan. 

Otoplasty: The Procedure 

If you’re interested in cosmetic ear surgery, you begin with a consultation with our surgeon. There, you will answer questions about your medical history and our doctor will take a look at your ears to form a plan for surgery. Together, you will discuss the specifics of the surgery and get any questions answered. 

The surgery itself usually entails cutting slits in the back of the ears in order to flatten or reposition them—although all ear surgeries are different depending on the shape and size of the patient’s ears. In some instances, only one ear is altered. Surgery takes just an hour or two and either involves light intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. 

After surgery, your ear or ears will be wrapped and your recovery will begin. The expected bruising, swelling, and discomfort may be treated by your doctors with pain medication. Most patients can return to school or work within 4 or 5 days, and most will recover fully in 4-6 weeks. Recovery requires patients to sleep with a protective ear covering for several weeks to help with the final results and to protect the ears. 

Otoplasty results are often permanent and you will see results immediately. Full results will be apparent in 4-6 weeks. 

Otoplasty And Children 

Many cosmetic surgeries are not appropriate for children for various reasons, but otoplasty is commonly performed on children. Why? Otoplasty is not a major surgery and the results are often permanent. In addition, it’s often clear when a child can benefit from otoplasty—and when a kid’s confidence can be easily boosted, and an embarrassing feature minimized or corrected, everyone wants that to happen as soon as possible! 

Many parents opt to have their child’s otoplasty performed at the beginning of summer, so that their ears can heal outside of school, and so that they can return in the fall without evidence of the procedure.

How Much Does Ear Surgery Cost? 

The cost of otoplasty depends heavily on the details of the surgery—the extent of the alterations, whether surgery is needed on one or both ears, and what kind of anesthetic is being used. Talk to your doctor about the cost of the surgery. 

Some ear surgeries are covered by health insurance plans. This depends both on your insurance coverage and the nature and severity of your ear condition. 

Otoplasty At Gallatin Valley Surgical Center 

If you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your ears, or if you know your child would benefit from less prominent ears, you do not have to wait longer for a solution. Otoplasty is a common, dependable solution that has already helped millions of people. 

To learn more about cosmetic ear surgery, please contact our doctors today—and find out if otoplasty could be the right decision for you or your loved one.