My Plastic Surgery Group

Otoplasty

About Otoplasty Surgery

Large or protruding ears can lead to self consciousness in adults and children. For children, being made fun of at school and having to deal with embarrassing nicknames because of your ear shape or size can be devastating. These are some of the reasons otoplasty or ear pinning surgery is so common.

Otoplasty Procedure Details

Otoplasty or ear pinning is a cosmetic procedure to alter the shape or projection of the ear. This procedure is offered by our surgeons in Indianapolis and Carmel.

Otoplasty Before & After

bxa-Otoplasty-1_bxa-Otoplasty-2_

Real Results

View before-and-after pictures of real patients of My Plastic Surgery Group.

View Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

They will look less protuberant and they may look smaller but the actual size of the ear will be the same.
Usually not. Typically, there is no medical need for otoplasty surgery.
A dressing is worn around the ears and head for one week. There will be bruising and swelling as well. It is most important to protect them from bending or other trauma and we recommend wearing a headband at bedtime for 2-3 weeks.
One must have completely healed skin before swimming. A protective swim cap is advised for the first 6-8 weeks. Diving, as well as swimming in crowded pools, should be avoided to reduce risk of trauma.

Hearing in not affected by operating on the outer ear in otoplasty surgery.

Yes. With normal aging, the ear cartilage becomes more fibrous and less pliable.
Otoplasty surgery is considered to be very safe. Anesthesia, and preventative antibiotics are used.
No.

Otoplasty Procedure Information

Ear surgery, ear pinning, or otoplasty, is most commonly done to situate prominent ears closer to the head or to reduce the size of big ears. When ears display excessive protrusion out to the sides (termed “prominent” or “protuberant” ear), otoplasty is performed. Congenital misshapened cartilage is generally the cause of protruding ears.
Otoplasty, or ear pinning, is one of the few cosmetic procedures done on children and is most often done on those children who have been teased for having big ears and who are suffering from self esteem issues because of it, although it can be performed on adults as well. The surgery is done using outpatient general anesthesia. Otoplasty surgery changes the cartilage framework by increasing the antihelical fold which is just inside the rim of the ear, and reducing the enlarged conchal cartilage which is the deepest concavity of the ear. The incision is hidden by placing it behind the ear. Internal non- removable sutures are used to secure the cartilage.
After otoplasty surgery, the patient awakens with a bulky head-wrapping for a dressing. This is to be kept in place and dry for one week. Early redness and swelling are to be expected. It is helpful to wear a tennis headband for protection when sleeping. During the the first several months, slight relaxation or partial reprojection of the ears is very common.

We invite and encourage you to view our before and after otoplasty pictures on this website.

Meet Dr. Aker

Dr. Aker, an Indianapolis plastic surgeon affiliated with several area hospitals, has lectured and is published widely on a variety of plastic surgery topics. Dr. Aker brought several new techniques in cosmetic surgery to Indianapolis and Carmel including the endoscopic breast augmentation (“endo aug”) and Asian eyelid surgery.
learn more

Meet Dr. Beckman

After receiving her medical degree with honors, Dr. Beckman was selected for a highly competitive integrated plastic surgery residency position at Rutgers University, where she rigorously trained in both aesthetic and complex reconstructive plastic surgery for six years. During residency, she developed a strong passion for plastic surgery education and research. She earned several teaching and clinical excellence awards and served as Chief Resident in her final year.

After residency, Dr. Beckman was selected for an aesthetic plastic surgery fellowship position at H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery, one of the nation’s premier aesthetic plastic surgery practices. This additional year gives her the unique opportunity to learn from some of the most recognized names in aesthetic plastic surgery and to train with the most innovative procedures and products available.

learn more

Related Procedures

Rhinoplasty

Blepharoplasty

Filler

Facelift

View All Services
Scroll to Top