An otoplasty is done on prominent ears in order to set them back closer to the head or to decrease the size of large ears. Surgery can be done on adults as well as children, although children should typically wait until age 5 or 6 when the ear is fully developed. The procedure involves working on the ear cartilage that gives structure to the ear in order to correct ear prominence.
An otoplasty is done under local plus sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes 1-2 hours. The incision is made inside or behind the ear and is inconspicuous once healed. Following surgery, a head wrap is placed to protect the ears. Once the wrap is removed in the office, patients are often asked to wear a headband for several weeks to maintain the new ear position and prevent injury particularly when sleeping.