Can you reduce the size of the ear cartilage?

Question

My ears are not protruding and the ear lobe is not large. The top part of my ears, however, are rather big and as a result they are making me very self conscious of my ears. I am wondering if it is possible to actually remove the ear cartilage in order to make them smaller. Also, if it is possible to do this, how much would it cost and what are the risks?

Joyce C. Chen, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.  Yes, it is possible to reduce the size of your ear cartilage, depending on your specific ear anatomy.  I would recommend consulting a board certified plastic surgeon for him/her to evaluate your ears in person and offer treatment options.  Hope this helps...best of luck!

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

You could benefit from an otoplasty where the ear is 'pinned back' and if your bowl is large, some cartilage can be removed from there.  Costs will vary widely from place to place so its worth calling around and you should also ask about what the revision policy is just in case its needed.  Risks come with any procedure but the ones I am most concerned about would be symmetry, over or under correction, and scarring.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

There are different designs for making he ear smaller.It requires expertise and accurate execution of the surgery.You need to accept a scar on the ear

Can you reduce the size of the ear cartilage?

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Can you reduce the size of the ear cartilage?

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Everything you need to know about Ear Surgery

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