Otoplasty — restoring ear with a natural, less prominent position
Surgical correction of prominent or asymmetric ears — reshaping cartilage to improve ear position, shape, and facial harmony. A precise procedure with a recovery that is usually manageable in daily life.
Anesthesia
Local / General
Duration
1–2 hours
Hospital
Day case
Work
5–7 days
Sport
4–6 weeks
Final result
6–8 weeks
"The goal is ears that sit more naturally in relation to the face."
Dr. Serkan Kaya · Otoplasty
Cartilage Reshaping
What is otoplasty?
Proportion, not reduction
Otoplasty — ear pinning or ear reshaping surgery — corrects the position, shape, or symmetry of prominent ears. The surgery addresses the underlying cartilage structure, repositioning the ear closer to the head and recreating or strengthening the natural folds that define ear anatomy. Once cartilage is reshaped and healed, the new position is generally maintained long term.
The procedure is suitable for adults and for children from approximately age six, once ear cartilage has reached sufficient maturity. For adults who have lived with prominent ears, the change is often felt to be more meaningful than the limited scale of the procedure might suggest — the ears are not made smaller, simply better positioned relative to the head and face.
Minimal dressing protocol — from day one
Standard otoplasty recovery often involves bulky circumferential head dressings during the first postoperative week. In my practice, a refined cartilage scoring and suturing technique allows a lighter dressing protocol: from the first postoperative day, patients wear only a soft protective headband. There are no heavy bandages or restrictive wrapping. The headband is worn continuously for the first two weeks, then only at night for a further two to four weeks. This lighter protocol is possible because the repair is designed to be stable from the start.
Surgical approach
How the procedure works
01
Consultation & planning
We assess ear position, cartilage strength, antihelical fold development, and the degree of conchal excess. Symmetry between both ears is evaluated carefully — the goal is bilateral balance, not mirror-image perfection. Pre-operative planning is used to clarify the intended change and to set realistic symmetry goals.
02
Anesthesia
Adults are typically treated under local anaesthesia with sedation. For suitable patients, this can make the early recovery period simpler than general anaesthesia. For children, general anaesthesia is used. The procedure takes 1–2 hours.
03
Cartilage reshaping
An incision is made in the natural crease behind the ear. The cartilage is accessed, scored or weakened where needed to allow controlled reshaping, and permanent sutures are placed to recreate or strengthen the antihelical fold and reduce conchal prominence. The technique is selected based on the specific anatomy — not applied uniformly.
04
Closure & dressing
The incision behind the ear is closed with fine absorbable sutures. A light protective dressing is applied on the day of surgery. From postoperative day one, this is replaced with a soft headband — worn continuously for two weeks, then only at night for a further two to four weeks.
Are you a good candidate?
Who is otoplasty right for?
Otoplasty is suitable for patients in good general health with realistic expectations about the degree of change achievable. In children, surgery is generally appropriate from age six once ear cartilage has matured sufficiently. Adults can be treated at any age.
Prominent ears that protrude significantly from the head
Underdeveloped or absent antihelical fold
Asymmetry between the two ears in position or shape
Excessive conchal bowl depth contributing to protrusion
Children aged six and above with cartilage maturity
Adults seeking correction they have deferred for years
Recovery
What to expect after surgery
Recovery from otoplasty is generally straightforward. With the lighter dressing protocol, the early recovery period is often easier to manage than patients expect. Mild swelling and bruising settle within 10–14 days. The ears may feel tender and slightly numb for several weeks — this is expected and resolves. The final position becomes clear once swelling resolves, typically by 6–8 weeks.
5–7 d
Return to work
2 wk
Headband day & night
4–6 wk
Sport
6–8 wk
Final result
FAQ
Common questions
The incision is placed in the natural crease behind the ear — an area that is naturally concealed and rarely visible in everyday life. In most patients the scar matures to a fine, pale line within a few months. In most patients, it becomes a minor finding rather than a practical concern.
Bulky circumferential dressings are the conventional approach — they protect the repair while swelling is at its peak. My technique uses cartilage scoring and suture placement in a way that allows the repair to be stable from day one without requiring compression dressing. The soft headband provides gentle positional support and protects the ears during sleep, without the discomfort, heat, and conspicuousness of a full head wrap. Patients often find the recovery easier to integrate into daily life as a result.
From approximately age six, ear cartilage has generally reached sufficient maturity for surgery. Operating earlier than this risks working on cartilage that is still developing. There is no upper age limit — adults at any age are suitable candidates. For children, the decision should involve the child in the conversation where appropriate: ideally the child themselves is motivated, not only the parents.
Once cartilage has healed in its new position — typically by 6–8 weeks — the corrected position is generally long lasting. The sutures used are permanent, and the cartilage scoring creates lasting structural changes. Partial relapse is possible in the early weeks if the ears are subjected to trauma or if the headband protocol is not followed — which is why the night-time headband period matters.
Most international patients stay in Istanbul for 4–5 days. Consultation, surgery, and the first postoperative check all take place within this window. Because the minimal dressing protocol allows for a comfortable early recovery, travelling home after day four or five is well-tolerated by most patients. Follow-up continues via scheduled video calls and direct WhatsApp access.