Ear Surgery Q&A
93%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers
that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not.
See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings
or Add Your Review

View Before and Afters
Average Ear Surgery Cost: $3,485
Learn about Ear Surgery
184 people and 300 doctors are talking about Ear Surgery
Get Free Email Updates
Can Otoplasty Be Performed on a 10-Year-Old Child?
asked 1 year ago by Edmonton Alberta in Edmonton Alberta
Latest answer by Enrique Etxeberria, MD
Question viewed 555 times
Tags: age 17 or under, child
my ten year old child's ears stick out, and i was just wondering if otoplasty can be performed on her at his age?
36 answers to Can Otoplasty Be Performed on a 10-Year-Old Child?
+2
Otoplasty for proturding ears in children
Otoplasty to pin back, or reshape the ear (pinna) is most commonly done in children beginning from 4 years of age.
Performing otoplasty in 10 year old is appropriate and offers the advantage that a child of that age can cooperate and cope well with his post operative care.
+1
Otoplasty on a 10 year old child
Yes of course.
This surgery nowadays is usually performed between 5-7 years of age. This role avoids psycological trauma. In the other hand, at this moment (10 years) ear size is almost at 80% of adult size.
Surgery must be done by a board certified plastic surgeon. In a 10 years old children, general anesthesia is preferred.
+1
Otoplasty for children
Otoplasty can be performed after age three, when the ears have reached 85 percent of the adult size. It is appropriate in a ten year old unless the child isn't psychologically ready to undergo an operation. I like to operate during transition points, ie, between elementary and junior high school, or preschool and kindergarten, where children will be exposed to new friends and situations as they will feel more confident and less subject to taunting with more normal appearing ears.
more
+1
Can Otoplasty Be Performed on a 10-Year-Old Child...
An Otoplasty can definitely be performed on a 10 year old child. The lower limit is about 6 years of age and the procedure is commonly done on children. Often times the procedure can be done before the child starts school to avoid teasing, but it is OK to wait and discuss it with your child as well to make sure it is something he or she wants. Having it performed under general anesthesia is best to avoid the child waking up or moving during the procedure. Be...
more
+1
Otoplasty on Children
Otoplasty can be done on children as early as 5 years of age. I recommend doing this procedure for children as soon as possible once it is determined that the child is being affected by the prominent ears. If a girl refuses to wear her hair up OR a boy insists on long hair to cover the ears, parents may want to discuss the child's concerns. Avoiding psycosocial trauma (for example, teasing) is important at this age.
+1
Otoplasty on children
By the age of five or six, most ears have reached about 80% of their adult size. Therefore, for the right candidate, this procedure is appropriate for children, teens and adults.
+1
10 Year Old Otoplasty is Possible
Absolutely otoplasty can be performed on a ten year old. I have even had ten year old patients who allowed me to perform the procedure with just local anesthesia which decreases the cost signficantly.
D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty and age of patient
Yes an otoplasty can be perofrmed on a ten year old. Ears grow to approximately 80% of their adult size by 6 years of age and this procedure can be performed at anytime after that.
+1
Otoplasty
Otoplasty can be safely and successfully performed on a 10 year old. Schedule a Consultation for your child with a board certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon. Best wishes!
Michael Sullivan, MD
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
What is a Good Age for Otoplasty (Ear Surgery)?
Otoplasty (ear surgery) sometimes referred to as ear pinning, is one of the few cosmetic plastic surgery procedure performed on children. The rationale is that the ear reaches nearly adult size at an early age, and early intervention reduces the appearance of prominent before school age teasing occurs.
There are two peaks in the age of intervention. The first is around age 5 to 6, and the second is in early adulthood. The timing depends on social situations and physical characteristics....
more
Joseph Mele, MD
Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon
Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty at age 10 is quite normal and acceptable
An otoplasty can be prudently considered in children first starting around 5 - 6 years of age. Ten years of age is quite normal. It is important that the child is mature enough to understand what is going on as well as to be bothered by the appearance or the associated teasing attendant with prominent ears.
+1
Otoplasty Can Be Performed on Your Child
Otoplasty can be performed as early as 4-5 years of age. Surgery is best performed prior to a child entering kindergarten or first grade and late enough where the ear has adequately developed. This will help minimize any teasing that can occur. Obviously otoplasty can be performed at a later age and is commonly done so. I have performed otoplasty on a range of patients from the minimum of 4-5 up to 70 years of age.
+1
Otoplasty, what age can it be done?
Most surgeons would recommend that otoplasty (surgical correction of prominent ears) be done prior to elementary school age (3-5). It can be done anytime after that age as well, but as the child gets older, the ear cartilage become stiffer and the recurrence rate increases. Also, he/she is more likely to get teased at school at an older age.
As an aside, there is a new non surgical method of prominent ear correction, but in order to be successful it must be implemented before the...
more
Kenneth Bermudez, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty in a 10 year old is absolutely appropriate!
In fact, unless it has just started to bother your daughter, otoplasty could have been done before she started grade school and suffered teasing by classmates. But at 10, if she is eager and motivated to proceed with corrective otoplasty, she may be a candidate for local anesthesia (which usually isn't possible for the 5-6 year-old).
I routinely do these under local anesthesia for this age group and allow them to select the operating room music and talk or ask questions during...
more
+1
Yes, otoplasty can be performed on a 10 year old
Many children with prominent ears have an otoplasty around age 5-6 due to fact that it is at that age when they become more social and their peers may start to make fun of them. It is safe to perform an otoplasty as young as 5 years old, and in fact, there have been studies to show that it appears safe to perform as young as age 2.
I personally like to wait until age 5 or older.
Andrew C. Campbell, M.D.
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Andrew Campbell, MD
Milwaukee Facial Plastic Surgeon
Milwaukee Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty on a 10 year old.
Otoplasty can definitly be done for a 10 year old child. The younger an individual for this particular precedure the better....most people prefer this procedure for their 5 to 6 year olds before they start School.
Mahmood Kara, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon
Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty is safe
Otoplasty can definitely be done on a 10 year old and as early as 5 or 6. It is important that your child follows the post-operative instructions to avoid injury or complications, thus 10 is a good age.
+1
What is the right age for Otoplasty?
Otoplasty, or corrective surgery for prominent ears, can be done at any age after five years. By age five, the ear cartilages have grown to nearly adult size, and become resilient enough to support corrective surgery. Age 10 is a perfect time for a child to have Otoplasty. At this age they will tolerate post operative discomfort and comply with care associated with it.
+1
Otoplasty at age 10 is acceptable
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to undergo an otoplasty at age 10. This can be done under local anesthesia if the child is willing to be tolerant of some injections behind the ears. The surgery takes approximately one hour and it is certainly acceptable to undergo this procedure due to the social stigma these kids get at school.
+1
Can an otoplasty be done on a 10 year old child?
Yes, an otoplasty can certainly be done on a 10 year old. Otoplasty can be done of children as young as 5 or 6, but in many ways waiting until your child is a little bit older is not unreasonable as she is able to more easily take part in the recovery process.
+1
Can a 10 year old child have otoplasty (surgery for protruding ears)
Hi Edmonton!
Yes! Your 10 year old child can have otoplasty (surgery for protruding ears). The earliest we usually perform the procedure is at 5-6 years, but after that, it can be performed at any time. Often, taking care of the problem earlier (age 5-8 years), can be better, because the child is aware of the problem, but other children haven't taken note and begun teasing yet.
Good luck!
P. Daniel Ward, MD
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Ear Surgery to Improve Protruding Ears with Otoplasty
Hi Edmonton Alberta in Edmonton Alberta,
Otoplasty surgery is a good option to improve the appearance of large or protruding ears. Typically, this ear cosmetic surgery is performed once a child's ear size is mature, around age 6 or later. Otoplasty reshapes and pulls the ear back closer to the head.
While commonly performed in younger children, older children or adults may have this procedure too. The procedure is typically performed via IV sedation or general anesthesia. A small...
more
+1
Otoplasty
It certainly can be done, however will require anesthesia. If he is being teased at school and asking to have them corrected it may be in his best interest to proceed soon.
Roy A. David, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Age for otoplasty
Certainly a 10 year old can have an otoplasty. It is even easier than in a 4-5 year-old because they can understand the recovery restrictions better.
+1
Otoplasty can be done on chilldren as young as 4 to 5 years old.
Absolutely, the earliest recommended age for otoplasty is four to five years when the ears have attained approximately 85% of their anticipated growth and form.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Age for otoplasty in a child.
I like to do these at 5-6 years of age before they go to school and have children tease them about their ears. The ear has grown to its adult size and can be done under general or in some cases even local anesthesia.
+1
Otoplasty age
The external ear is 85% adult size at age 5. An otoplasty can easily be done at this time and is usually done just before a child enters kindergarten.
Jack Peterson, MD
Topeka Plastic Surgeon
Topeka Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty
If your child is age 10 years then an Otoplasty if needed is appropriate. At age 6 it is frequently done because the ear is nearly adult size.
Walter D. Gracia, MD
Arlington Plastic Surgeon
Arlington Plastic Surgeon
+1
Appropriate age for otoplasty
Timing of otoplasty is determined by growth and social factors. Ideally the correction is made when the ear is fully grown. At age 6, 90% of growth of the ear is complete. As children typically begin school at this age, correction of the ears is performed before school to avoid the social stigma associated with prominent ears. Age 10 is certainly a safe age and the results are excellent.
Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon to help you with your decision...
more
+1
Best age for otoplasty
Otoplasty used to be performed right before going to kindergarten so kids would avoid any teasing. Since kids now go to preschool sooner than age 5, those guidelines don't apply any more. However, a ten year-old can certainly have an otoplasty.
Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty in children
This can be done in children. Most of the ear growth and development is done by age 7 or 8, which is when the teasing begins. If there are no other issues, and the child is mature enough and asking for the procedure, summer is a great time to do it, as the kids will not notice on return to school.
sek
Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty in kids
Yes, at 10 years old a child can have an otoplasty. In general the surgery is performed around age six. Good luck.
+1
Otoplasty can be performed on a 10 year old
Otoplasty is most commonly performed on a child after the age of 5. Depending on the disposition and age of the child, this procedure can be performed under many types of anesthesia, though usually general anesthesia is used in children before they are teens.
Ear reshaping surgery is performed by Otolaryngologists (Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeons), Facial Plastic Surgeons, and General Plastic Surgeons. Be sure to go to a physician who performs many of these and ask to see pre-...
more
Jason Lichtenberger, MD
Bellingham Facial Plastic Surgeon
Bellingham Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
OtoplastyTiming
In general, you want to wait until a child's ears have reached near adult size. For most people, 90% of the adult size is achieved by the age 6. This is also the time point when children begin to notice that they are different form one another in a negative way, which is why this is the ideal time to undergo an otoplasty - before other children begin the teasing. Given that information, undergoing an otoplasty at 10yo is completely within the normal realm. I hope...
more
Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon
Barrington Plastic Surgeon
+1
Otoplasty Surgery Can Be Safely Performed on Young Children
Reshaping the cartilage of a child's ear with otoplasty techniques can be done at almost any age, even as young as age two or three. There are no deleterious effects on ear growth or formation. This has been proven by more recent ear surgery studies which have looked at ear growth when such surgeries were performed at these very young ages. Therefore, otoplasty is a 10-year old child is perfectly fine. The real issue with otoplasty in children is compliance and tolerance of a head...
more
+1
Ottoplasty
Ottoplasty can be done from age 6. however it should be done under general anesthesia because of age. Consult a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON (AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY)
Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon