Otoplasty

Otoplasty (ear surgery) is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of the ears. Otoplasty does not affect hearing, and provides significant psychological benefits to anyone who is teased about ear size and/or shape, has had a serious ear injury, or simply wants to improve his or her appearance. Otoplasty is most often performed to set unusually protruding ears closer to the head (ear pinning) or to reduce the size of abnormally large ears. Otoplasty may also be helpful in repairing the following:

• Abnormal constructions (lop ear)
• Cauliflower ear (which results from repeated trauma)
• Large, stretched or torn earlobes
• Earlobes with large creases and wrinkles
• Microtia (abnormally small ears)

New ears or parts of ears can be constructed for patients who are missing them from causes that include birth defects, severe injuries and skin cancers.