Otoplasty surgery is usually performed in our day surgery centre under twilight sedation and can take from two to three hours, depending on the problem and the technique used. For very young children the surgeon will suggest the procedure be conducted under general anaesthesia in a hospital facility.

Typically, a small incision is made just behind the ear, in the natural fold where the ear is joined to the head, to expose the ear cartilage. The surgeon will then remove the necessary amounts of cartilage and skin required to achieve the right effect. In some cases, the surgeon will trim the cartilage to resize the ear, shaping it into a more desirable form and then pin the cartilage back and secure it with permanent sutures.

Another simpler technique may be possible to achieve your desired result. It involves a similar incision in the back of the ear. Skin is removed and sutures are used to fold the cartilage back on itself to reshape the ear without removing any cartilage.

In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the crease of the ear that will be generally inconspicuous and will fade with time.