What is Ear Pinning/Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that corrects protruding or deformed ears by fixing abnormalities in the ear structure. It repositions, resizes and/or reshapes the ears. In some cases, otoplasty also goes by the name “ear pinning.”
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About the Ear Pinning Procedure
Although the exact surgical technique used will depend on several factors, the basics of otoplasty remain the same: First, incisions are made in the ear and used to remove extra fat and skin. Second, the cartilage is contoured and positioned for optimal aesthetics. And lastly, the incisions are closed with stitches.
In most cases, the surgery is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. When ear surgery is performed on children, the ear cartilage is very soft, allowing for contouring with splints. Adults have much harder cartilage, so the procedure will consist of repositioning or removing cartilage through a small ear incision.
Depending on your desired changes and unique anatomy, your surgeon may decide to make an incision hidden behind the ear. During the procedure, extra soft tissue or cartilage that causes the ear to stick out can be removed. If the ear is missing its normal folds, your doctor can shape the cartilage and create these folds. In many situations, the folds can be created with permanent sutures, or the cartilage can be contoured through targeted scraping. Depending on the desired result and the initial complications, your surgeon might use multiple techniques.
Otoplasty Recovery
Bandages are placed around the head after surgery to keep the ears in place, protect them and help them heal. The initial bandage will typically get swapped out with a lighter bandage within a few days. Patients should keep their head elevated for the first few days and rest as much as possible. Any discomfort can be well-controlled by prescribed medication. There will be some swelling, which will recede over the next weeks and months. Most patients can go back to work or school in a week or two, gradually resuming normal activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
You won’t feel any pain during your otoplasty. You will be under general anesthesia, rendering you sound asleep and blissfully unaware of the procedure. For the first day to three after surgery, patients do report some mild discomfort, often describing it as a dull ache or throbbing. Prescription and/or OTC pain medications can keep patients comfortable during this time.
It takes about six weeks for patients to fully recover from ear pinning, and three to six months for the results to fully settle in and finalize. Most patients are able to return to work in about a week when the swelling and bruising have eased. You will need to take it easy for four to six weeks, however, and avoid strenuous activity.
Generally, yes. The surgery reshapes ear cartilage and utilizes permanent sutures to hold things in place. It is possible that the aging process or an ear injury could alter your results, but this is quite rare. Otoplasty is considered a permanent procedure.
Complications from otoplasty are rare, but possible. Risks include hematoma and infection. It is possible for otoplasty results to appear uneven or asymmetrical as well, although the risk of this is quite small when surgery is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon. The same is true of overcorrection, which can position the ears too close to the head.
People can have otoplasty any time after their ears have grown to their full size. This typically occurs between the ages of four and six. At Mia Aesthetics, we only perform otoplasty on patients who are at least 18.
Otoplasty scars are usually hidden in the natural crease behind the ears where they meet the head. This makes them very discreet and difficult to see. While the scars may appear red or pink early on, they usually fade to near invisibility in about six to 18 months. Your scar may always be visible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be noticeable.
People often refer to otoplasty as ear pinning, but the procedure is much more versatile than that name suggests. In addition to fixing protruding ears, otoplasty can fix asymmetrical and deformed ears.
Absolutely! Although individual healing and surgeons’ preferences vary, patients typically need to wear a headband 24/7 for the first week or two after surgery. After that, you will need to wear it at night for about six weeks. The headband is important as it helps to hold your ears in place and protect them while they heal.
No. Otoplasty manipulates the outer portions of your ear to reshape and contour them as needed. It does not affect the middle or inner ear, which is where the anatomical structures related to hearing reside. If you wear hearing aids, however, you’ll need to wait for your ears to heal before you can use them. Naturally, you may struggle to hear until you can wear your hearing aids again, but this is a temporary inconvenience.