Otoplasty Austin | Ear Lobe Repair Austin

Many people are unhappy with the appearance of their ears. Whether you’ve always had issues with the shape, position, or size of your ears, or you wish you could turn back time on a piercing choice, or you’ve had an injury or trauma, our skilled surgeons can help with otoplasty in Austin.

What is Otoplasty?

Otoplasty, also called ear surgery, is a surgical procedure that is designed to address ears that stick out from the head (also called ear pinning), are misshapen (from either a natural defect or an injury), too large or otherwise unsatisfactory to you. An otoplasty procedure must be performed by a specialist who has experience with reshaping, sizing and positioning the ears perfectly. In the case of otoplasty for a child, otoplasty must be performed only once the ears have fully developed.

What are the benefits of ear surgery?

Ear surgery or ear pinning can quickly correct aesthetic concerns about the ears. Ears are hard to hide, and if you aren’t happy with the way they look, it can cause embarrassment and a lack of confidence. And for children, prominent or unusually-shaped ears can make the child a target for bullying. Otoplasty resolves these concerns and has many benefits:

Brings proportion to the face if ears stick out from the sides of the head
Corrects a folded ear tip (also called lop ear)
Enlarges or enhances small ears or other congenital defects.
Reshapes long or prominent earlobes.
Repairs ear trauma, including serious trauma such as losing an ear
Increases confidence and self esteem
Provides permanent results
Is a safe procedure
Usually requires shorter recovery times

Am I a candidate for otoplasty?

Men, women, and children who dislike the appearance of their ears may be candidates for otoplasty or ear pinning (correcting prominent ears to angle them more closely to the head). We can help those who are tired of hiding their ears and feeling self conscious about their ears. Ideal candidates for otoplasty or ear pinning in Austin should meet the following requirements:

Are in good general health
Are at least five years old (the ears are usually fully formed by this age)
Do not smoke
Have realistic expectations about the procedure and results

Otoplasty Before & Afters

View pictures of real Austin Face & Body patients who have received ear surgery

Before and after otoplasty in Austin at Austin Face & Body

Otoplasty Before & Afters Gallery Images »

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Earlobe Repair

Gauges, heavy earrings, or ear trauma can tear, stretch or disfigure the ear lobes. Earlobe repair is a simple, short procedure that corrects damage to the earlobe or resolves cosmetic concerns, such as overly long or dangling lobes.

What is earlobe repair surgery?

Earlobe repair surgery is a type of otoplasty that specifically focuses on the lobes of the ears. This procedure is usually performed with a local anesthetic, using different techniques based on your unique needs. Earlobe repair can redistribute tissue, close a wound, or resize or reshape the earlobe to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Earlobe repair benefits

The earlobe repair procedure includes the following benefits:

Low level of invasion
Relatively painless
Short procedure
Minimal recovery time
Repairs torn or split earlobes
Repairs unwanted larger or stretched holes from ear gauges or piercing
Attaches detached lobes you would like attached, or detaches lobes you would like attached
Corrects sagging, dangling, overly prominent or elongated earlobes
Can be used to completely restore the earlobe, freeing it from piercing of any kind

Earlobe repair candidates

Candidates for earlobe repair in Austin are men or women who would like to address trauma, piercings, or other concerns in the earlobes. Candidates should meet the following requirements:

Are in good overall health
Have realistic expectations regarding the procedure and results
Do not have a history of severe scarring or previous complications with scarring

What can I expect from my otoplasty procedure?

To begin the process of your ear lobe repair, we will sit down with you for a thorough consultation. During your initial evaluation your ear will be examined to determine the best approach to resolving the concern.

Your otoplasty can usually be done in our office, under local anesthesia (depending on your condition and age). Your procedure will usually take about two hours. Incisions are usually made on the back of the ears or in the inner creases of the ears. The techniques vary based on your ear concerns, from performing ear pinning to reconstructing parts of your ear.

During ear pinning a piece of cartilage is removed so that the ears can lie flatter against your head. For an ear reduction, the cartilage is trimmed down so that the ears are smaller and less prominent. If your ears are smaller or are missing cartilage, the procedure is more involved. In this case, ear augmentation is performed to rebuild the ear structure, sometimes using an implant or a part of the rib cartilage.

What is recovery like from ear surgery?

After ear surgery, many patients are comfortable returning to work, school or their usual activities within about one week. In some cases, the recovery time is less, if the procedure was more minimal.

Your ears will be covered in bandages for a few days to ensure support and protection. Avoid any pressure or contact with the ears. Pain or itchiness is typically mild and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications. Maximum bruising and swelling occurs 48 to 72 hours post-surgery, and begins to subside on the fourth or fifth day after surgery.

Otoplasty FAQs

Will I have scars after my ear surgery?

In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar hidden in the crease behind the ear. This will fade over time.

Will otoplasty affect my hearing?

No, it will not change or affect the hearing, as it is only concerned with the shape of the ear.

Are there any risks?

Otoplasty is considered a low-risk procedure. However, as with any other surgery, otoplasty has the usual risks of bleeding, scarring, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia.

Providers who perform Ear Surgery at Austin Face & Body

Dr. Alex Pong

Dr. Pong joins Austin Face and Body from Louisville, KY, where he completed an Aesthetic Society-endorsed fellowship working under world-renowned breast surgeon, Dr. Brad Calobrace. Prior to that, he completed his medical degree with honors and graduated first in his class from UT Health in San Antonio.

Dr. Alex Pong »

Why choose Austin Face & Body for otoplasty?

Austin Face and Body brings together top specialists from all over the country to Austin, Texas, to provide the highest level of patient care. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Sean Paul, our practice consists of oculofacial plastic surgeons, full-body and women's health plastic surgeons, and rhinoplasty and facelift plastic surgeons in Austin who collaborate to bring their patients the best service and results. From the moment you call us for a consultation to your follow-up appointments, you are in excellent hands with Austin Face & Body. To learn more or make an appointment for an Austin ear lobe repair, ear pinning, or otoplasty, please call 512-559-3544 or contact us online.

Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) in Austin