Is there a surgery to make the ear smaller?

Question

I have large ears not ears that stick out. I am depressed I can't cut my hair as I want I get bullied alot I just wonder if there's a safe surgery for such a thing.

Elliot Heller, MD · Answer

THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE EARS APPEAR SMALLER IS TO HAVE THEM PINNED BACK. BUT THIS SOMETHING YOU MAY WANT TO SPEAK WITH THE SURGEON ABOUT AND WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE

Paul M. Steinwald, MD · Answer

It is definitely possible to make the ear smaller in the vertical dimension via a wedge excision (which I have often performed for skin cancer surgeries), if you are willing to have a "wrap-around" scar (most likely at the junction of the upper 1/3 and mid-ear), and I (and the patients) have been impressed with how well these scars usually heal.  Otherwise, a classic "otoplasty" approach to pin the ears hides the incision on the posterior surface.  Just please be sure to visit with a board-certified plastic surgeon . . . thanks!

William R. Burden, MD, FACS · Answer

Most people do not have overly large ears.  The ears protrude and give the appearance of being too large.Having said that, occasionally the ear is disproportionately large to the head.  The ear can be surgically reduced in size if indicated.  The trade off is a scar on the outside surface that may be undesirably visible.

Waldemar Merck, MD · Answer

If one has protruding and large ears, they will appear smaller after an ear pinning operation. However, if your ears are not protruding, they can only be made smaller by surgical measures (the so-called wedge resections) that always leave visible scars behind.

Is there a surgery to make the ear smaller?

Answers (4)

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