Ear Surgery: Q&A

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Can Ears Actually Be Made Smaller with Plastic Surgery?

I have larger ears that also stick out a little bit from my head. I'm a young woman who would love to feel comfortable with wearing my hair up whenever I'd like without feeling like everyone is staring at my ears. I've read that ear size can be reduced, but I've also talked to two doctors who perform Otoplasty and they have both told me that they cannot make my ears smaller. What is the honest answer? I mean I want to get the surgery very badly, but I want to get pretty close to what I want.

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by ldubs621 in Reading, PA

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Otoplasty surgery to make ears smaller...

Otoplasty is an excellent and safe procedure if you are looking to correct your protruding ears. When your ears are closer to the head, they will look smaller because they are not sticking out so much. The actual size is not made smaller because the cartilage is very specialized and any cutting into the cartilage has a risk of deformity. When the surgeon performs Otoplasty he will put permanent sutures in the cartilage to simply reshape the ear, leaving you with a more... more

Smaller ears

Yes the ears can be made smaller. But it does involve making incisions on the ear itself which results in a potential for scarring.

Surgery to make ears smaller

While it is possible to reduce the overall size of the ears, there will be extensive scarring, making it not worthwhile. The typical otoplasty procedure involves just pinning the ears back by recreating an antihelical fold and setting back the conchal bowl to decrease the lateral projection. The otoplasty procedure does not typically make the ears smaller.

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Ear size reduction with otoplasty

Hard to determine without photos. You are actually asking for two different things. One is a more common "ear pinning" where the Otoplasty is done to have the ears angle back more towards the head. The other is a reduction in the size of the ear. This is more complicated and involves more scarring. Best to go to a surgeon who has experience doing this operation. Review his before/after photos. Bring photos of your own to show the doctor, at... more

Making Ears Smaller

Yes, you can make ears smaller with surgery but there will be additional scars associated with that procedure. Make sure your surgeon can show you examples and discuss the potential risks and complications of the procedure with you.

Ear size can be reduced

Ears can be reduced in vertical and horizontal dimensions. There are limits based primarily on your ear anatomy. There is more scarring than in traditional otoplasty. During your consultation you will have to evaluate your deformity and potential improvement compared to the risk of visible scars. Good luck

Ear reduction with Otoplasty

If your ears are large for your face they actually can be reduced in size with a surgical technique that can be combined with otoplasty to bring your ear closer to your head.

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.