Prominent ear correction (otoplasty)

Prominent ear correction, also called otoplasty, is a cosmetic operation to correct ears that stick out.


When you would have prominent ear correction

Prominent ear correction can help if you:

  • are self-conscious about the shape or size of your ears
  • have ears of different shapes
  • have been teased about your ears.

This surgery can help you feel more comfortable with how your ears look.


Having prominent ear correction

Prominent ear correction is done by a plastic surgeon or an ear, nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist). For adults, this is usually through a private healthcare provider.

The surgery involves cutting the back of the ear, which exposes the cartilage under the skin. The cartilage can then be reshaped using cuts and stitches to hold the ear in the desired shape. The surgeon then closes the cut with stitches and covers the ears and scalp with a bandage.

Most adults have a local anaesthetic, which numbs the area being operated on. This means you are awake during the surgery. If you prefer, you can ask for a general anaesthetic (be asleep).

You can usually go home on the day of the surgery.

Prominent ear correction for pēpi and tamariki

If a pēpi is born with prominent or folded ears, their ears can be reshaped with splinting. But this is not always successful. The reshaping needs to happen in the first 4 weeks. After this age the cartilage does not respond to splinting.

Tamariki need to wait until they are about 5 years old, and not all tamariki with prominent ears need corrective surgery. If a tamaiti is not concerned about their ears, or has a confident personality, they will not usually need surgery.

If surgery is performed, it is done under a general anaesthetic (they are asleep). Tamariki should stay away from school during the week after surgery.

Anaesthesia for your surgery


After prominent ear correction

It is normal to feel a bit uncomfortable after surgery, but pain relief medicines can control this. The bandage will be taken off at the first follow-up appointment, usually about a week after surgery. Until then, you need to avoid doing anything that takes a lot of physical effort.

When the bandage comes off, the ears will still be bruised, swollen and tender. It is best to avoid contact sports for the first month after surgery. There will always be scars on the back of the ear, but they usually heal well and are hidden from view.

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if in the week after surgery:

  • pain that is getting worse
  • fever with a temperature over 38 degrees Celsius develops
  • chills develop
  • there is bleeding through the bandage
  • the bandage falls off.

Risks of prominent ear correction

Occasionally, problems develop after the surgery. These can include:

  • bleeding
  • wound infection
  • poor scarring
  • an ear shape that is not any better or that gets worse.

More surgery may be the only way to fix these problems. But problems are rare, and most operations work.


Referral information

You will need to be referred to a specialist doctor by your healthcare provider.

If you are having prominent ear correction for cosmetic (looks) reasons, you will need to go through a private specialist.