OTOPLASTY (Ear Correction Surgery)
Prominent ears reset closer to the head, by a consultant plastic surgeon, under local anaesthetic as a day case.
Otoplasty, also called pinnaplasty, reshapes the cartilage of the external ear so that prominent ears sit closer to the head. It changes the ear's position, not its size. At our clinic, Mr Samuel George, a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register, performs it.
Also known as: pinnaplasty, ear correction surgery, ear pinning, prominent ear correction.
Prominent ears are almost always a matter of cartilage shape rather than ear size. In most people, the fold that should curve the upper ear back has not formed fully, or the bowl of the ear is deeper than usual, and the result is an ear that sits further from the head. Otoplasty reshapes that cartilage so the ear sits closer. It is one of the most reliably satisfying procedures in cosmetic surgery, largely because the complaint is specific and the fix addresses it directly.
Why ears stick out, AND WHAT OTOPLASTY CHANGES
Almost nobody who dislikes their ears has large ears. They have ears that sit at the wrong angle, which is a different problem with a different solution.
Two features account for most prominent ears. The antihelical fold, the ridge that should curve the upper ear gently backwards, may be shallow or absent, so the upper ear stands away. And the conchal bowl, the deep hollow next to the canal, may be overdeveloped, pushing the whole ear outwards. Often both are present, in different proportions, and in different proportions in each ear.
Surgery addresses whichever applies to you. The fold can be created or strengthened; the bowl can be reduced or repositioned. That is why the assessment matters and why the operation isn't identical for everyone.
What it does not change is ear size. If your ears are prominent, resetting them closer makes them far less noticeable, because it is the angle rather than the dimension that draws the eye. But an ear that is genuinely large will still be that size afterwards, closer to the head.
Am I suitable for otoplasty?
Otoplasty here is for adults aged 18 and over who have a clear, specific complaint about the position of their ears.
Ears that stand.
away from the head, on one side or both.
Asymmetry.
where one ear is noticeably more prominent than the other. Both are usually operated on to match.
Adults who have disliked.
it for years and want it dealt with. This is the most common presentation, and it is as common a request from men as from women.
Healthy ear skin.
and no active infection, and a declaration if you form keloid scars, because the ear is a common site for them.
Your otoplasty journey,
FROM CONSULTATION TO SURGERY
The Process as follow for otoplasty:
Step 1
BOOK A CONSULTATION
Online or by phone. No referral needed.
Step 2
EXAMINATION WITH YOUR SURGEON
Mr George assesses both ears, identifies the driving feature, and checks your keloid history
Step 3
A CLEAR WRITTEN QUOTE.
What will be reshaped, what the result will realistically look like, the risks, and the price.
Step 4
TIME TO THINK.
You go home with it. Nobody asks you to decide in the room.
Step 5
SURGERY, SUPPORT AND REVIEW.
An hour or so under local anaesthetic, a supportive headband or dressing afterwards, and reviews to check healing and position.
How much does OTOPLASTY COST?
Otoplasty starts from £3,495. Both ears are normally operated on together, even when only one bothers you, because symmetry is the aim and matching a corrected ear to an uncorrected one is harder than doing both, so most quotes cover both ears. We confirm your exact price, for one ear or both, in writing after your consultation. The consultation is £195 in person and can be redeemed against the cost of your surgery if you go ahead.
Otoplasty recovery,
DAY BY DAY
A supportive headband or dressing is worn continuously. The ears are tender and swollen, and you sleep on your back to keep pressure off them.
Most adults return to work or study. The support often moves to night-time wear at this point.
The swelling settles, and the ears start to look like the final result. Still no contact sport.
The result has settled and contact sport can resume.
Why choose Private Medical Clinic
FOR OTOPLASTY?
There are the reason for choosing us:
CONSULTANT SURGEON THROUGHOUT.
You meet, are assessed by, and are operated on by Mr George, not a salesperson.
LOCAL ANAESTHETIC, DAY CASE.
No general anaesthetic and no overnight stay.
CQC REGISTERED FOR SURGERY.
Khela Medical Limited, GMC registered clinicians, strong clinical governance.
A WRITTEN QUOTE FIRST.
Priced after assessment, before you commit, with no same-day pressure.
HONEST ABOUT THE RESULT.
Including the scar, the recovery, and what will not change.
TRANSPARENT PRICING AND PAYMENT PLANS.
From £3,495, with the cost spread if you prefer.
Otoplasty before and after, PATIENTS REVIEWS
Real reviews for Mr George from Doctify and Google, with the rating and count
- Verified
Exceptional Dr totally understanding…
Exceptional Dr totally understanding totally listened and got the pain.Showing our 4 & 5 star reviews - Verified
Fast appointment
Fast appointment, consultation was not rushed.Showing our 4 & 5 star reviews - Verified
Good and efficient service
I got an appointment immediately on a Saturday. The doctor, Priya, called right on time and was thorough.Showing our 4 & 5 star reviews - Verified
First time coming to the private
First time coming to the private medical clinic in Oxford. Starting with such a warm welcome and professional care.Showing our 4 & 5 star reviews
Otoplasty QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Everything you need to know about otoplasty and ear correction surgery, for adults.
Yes, they are all the same operation. Otoplasty and pinnaplasty are the medical names, ear pinning is the common one.
Natural is the aim. An ear pressed too tightly against the head looks as obviously operated on as a prominent one, so Mr George sets the ears to a normal position rather than a maximal one, matched to your face.
It can be done, and one ear starts from £3,495, but we usually discuss operating on both, because matching a corrected ear to an uncorrected one is harder than setting both to the same position. Your surgeon will advise at your consultation.
Yes. The in-person consultation is £195, and if you decide to go ahead it is redeemed against the cost of your surgery.
Rarely for adults. It is considered cosmetic, so it is almost always a private procedure for adults, which is what we provide.
No, not during the procedure. The ear is fully numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure rather than pain. Afterwards there is tenderness and tightness for the first week, which is well controlled with simple pain relief.
No, not in normal life. It sits in the crease behind the ear, and you would have to be looking for it, from behind, with the ear pulled forward.
Some partial relapse is possible, because cartilage has memory, particularly if the support is abandoned early. Wearing the headband or dressing exactly as instructed is the single biggest thing within your control. Significant relapse is uncommon.
A lower headline price abroad is worth weighing against what you actually get. Having your otoplasty here means a named consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register, accountable for your care, treatment under local anaesthetic close to home, and aftercare you can genuinely attend while the cartilage settles, rather than a flight away. For a result that depends on careful healing and wearing the support correctly, that continuity matters.
No. We treat adults aged 18 and over, under local anaesthetic. Children usually need a general anaesthetic in a paediatric hospital setting, which we do not offer, so we would not be the right place for a child.
Ears you have never BEEN HAPPY WITH?
Book a consultation with Mr George. You will get an honest assessment of what is driving the prominence, what surgery would realistically achieve, and a written quote. Currently performed at our Edgbaston clinic in Birmingham, with more locations opening over the coming months.