# Otoplasty (Prominent Ear Correction)

> Otoplasty for prominent ears by ENT surgeon Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, Istanbul: from behind the ear, about an hour, from age 6; how it is done, recovery and risks.

Source: https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/otoplasty/  
Updated: 2026-10-29

Ear & throat

An operation from behind the ear, so that the ears sit closer to the head.

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Performed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker

Operation time About 1 hour

Anaesthesia Local or general; general for young children

Hospital stay Day case or 1 night

Back to work 1–2 weeks (school or work)

Final result Several months

Prominent ears are largely something a person is born with; in some cases an ear also loses its shape after an injury. When the fold that should run through the upper part of the ear (the antihelix) does not develop, or when the bowl of the ear (the concha) is deep, the angle between the back of the ear and the skull widens and the ears stand out. Prominent ears do not cause a health problem; they are an ear shape that can bother people only because of how it looks. Even so, how other children react at school, or how people see themselves, can make them want to change how their ears sit.

Otoplasty aims to correct this shape in a single operation: the ear is approached from behind, the missing fold is created in the cartilage, and the ear is set at a closer angle to the head. The operation takes about an hour, and hearing is not expected to be affected.

## Age and timing

The ear reaches most of its adult size by around 5 to 6 years of age; after that it keeps growing slowly, mainly in length, until about 11 or 12. Surgery is therefore not advised for children under 5; from the age of 6 it can be done at the family’s request, and there is no upper age limit for adults. In about the first six months of life, while the ear cartilage is still soft, an ear can sometimes be reshaped without surgery using special splints.

## What is assessed at the consultation

Dr. Teker examines each ear separately: the angle between the ear and the head, how far the antihelical fold has developed, the depth of the bowl of the ear and the stiffness of the cartilage. In a typical ear this angle is no more than about 30 degrees; in a prominent ear it is clearly wider. Whether the cartilage is soft or stiff decides which technique is used to create the fold. With children, the decision is made together with the family, listening to the child’s own wishes too, and what the operation will and will not change is discussed openly.

## How the operation works

The operation can be done under local or general anaesthesia; Dr. Teker prefers general anaesthesia for very young children, and local anaesthesia is also an option for older patients. The ear is approached from behind, through the crease where it joins the head; there is no incision on the front of the ear. The missing fold is created in the cartilage and held in place with non-absorbable stitches; where needed, the cartilage is thinned or a small piece is removed. When an ear has lost its shape after an injury, it can be rebuilt with cartilage taken from the patient’s own body. The skin is closed with dissolving stitches.

## After the operation

The first dressing is opened the next day and a soft headband goes on. It is worn day and night for about a week to protect the new position of the ears, and it also helps to ease pain and to prevent bleeding and swelling. Wearing it at night for a few more weeks may be advised. The skin stitches dissolve on their own, so none need removing. The ears can be tender and feel numb for a few weeks. Most children are back at school within one to two weeks; contact sports resume at around eight weeks. The cartilage can take several months to become flexible again.

## Is it right for you?

- Your ears stand out from your head at a wider angle than usual, and the way they look bothers you.
- The fold that should run through the upper part of the ear (the antihelix) did not form at birth, or the bowl of the ear (the concha) is deep.
- You cannot tie your hair back or wear it as you would like because you want to hide your ears.
- Your ear has lost its shape after an injury.
- Your child is 6 or older; by this age the ear has reached most of its adult size.
- You are an adult: there is no upper age limit for this operation in adults.

## How the operation is done

1. Examination and planning Dr. Teker assesses how the ears sit, the structure of the cartilage, the missing fold and the depth of the bowl of the ear. Whether the operation is done under local or general anaesthesia is decided by age and by the person.
2. Anaesthesia The operation can be done under local or general anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is preferred for very young children; older patients can also have it under local anaesthesia.
3. Access from behind the ear The ear is approached from behind, along the line where it joins the head. There is no incision on the front of the ear.
4. Creating the fold The fold the ear cartilage should have is created; where needed, the cartilage is thinned or a small piece of it is removed. This lets the ear sit at a closer angle to the head.
5. Stitches The stitches that hold the fold in its new position are non-absorbable and stay inside the ear. When the ear has lost its shape after an injury, it can be rebuilt with cartilage taken from the patient’s own body.
6. Dressing and headband The skin is closed with dissolving stitches. The first dressing is opened the next day and a soft headband, like a tennis headband, goes on.

## Recovery, step by step

1. Day 1 The first dressing is opened and the headband is put on. It protects the new position and also helps to ease pain and to prevent bleeding and swelling.
2. Week 1 The headband is worn day and night for about a week. The ears are tender; pain is usually controlled with simple painkillers. The skin stitches dissolve on their own, so none need removing.
3. Week 2 Most children go back to school and adults to work. Slight bruising around the ears fades within about two weeks.
4. The following weeks Wearing the headband at night for a few more weeks may be advised, so that the ears are not bent during sleep. Numbness or tingling in the ears can last a few weeks. Swimming usually resumes after 4 to 6 weeks and contact sports at around 8 weeks.
5. Several months The ear cartilage can take several months to become flexible again; the ears settle into their final position over this time.

### A note on risks

Like any operation, otoplasty carries a risk of bleeding, infection and a reaction to the anaesthetic. In the first weeks, tender ears, numbness or tingling and slight bruising around the ears are common and usually pass. A collection of blood under the skin (haematoma) and inflammation of the ear cartilage (perichondritis) are less common early problems that need prompt treatment; pain under the headband that increases, or that is worse on one side, can be a sign of them, and the practice should be told without delay. The non-absorbable stitches can later be felt through the skin, work their way to the surface or need to be removed. The fine scar behind the ear usually fades with time; rarely it thickens or a keloid forms. Some asymmetry between the ears can remain, and the ears can partly or fully stand out again over time, in which case a further correction may be needed. The ear cartilage can stay stiff for several months. Because the operation is limited to the shape of the outer ear, hearing is not expected to be affected. Dr. Teker goes through these points with you at the consultation.

In every surgical or interventional procedure, results may vary from person to person. Please obtain a detailed opinion from your physician before any procedure.

## Questions patients ask

**At what age can prominent ears be corrected?**

The ear reaches most of its adult size by around 5 to 6 years of age and keeps growing slowly afterwards, mainly in length. Surgery is not advised for children under 5; from the age of 6 it can be done at the family’s request. There is no upper age limit for adults.

**Are prominent ears a medical condition?**

No. Prominent ears do not cause a health problem; they are an ear shape that can bother people only because of how it looks. They are usually present from birth, and an ear can also lose its shape after an injury.

**Will there be a scar?**

The incision is behind the ear, in the crease where the ear joins the head. A fine scar remains there and fades with time; it is not expected to be visible from the front. Rarely the scar thickens.

**Does the operation affect hearing?**

Otoplasty concerns the outer shape of the ear; it is not expected to cause any problem with hearing.

**Will my ears be symmetrical afterwards?**

No two ears are ever exactly alike; the aim is ears that sit in balance. Small differences between the ears can remain after surgery, and rarely an ear stands out again over time, in which case a further correction may be needed.

Travelling from abroad? How long to stay in Istanbul, the consultation in person and follow-up after you fly home: [International patients](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/international-patients/)

## References

1. Janis JE, Rohrich RJ, Gutowski KA. Otoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2005;115(4):60e‑72e. [doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000156218.93855.C9](https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PRS.0000156218.93855.C9).
2. Naumann A. Otoplasty – techniques, characteristics and risks. GMS Current Topics in Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2007;6:Doc04. Available from: [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3199845](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3199845/) \[cited 2026 Oct 14\].
3. NHS. Ear correction surgery, including ear pinning. NHS (National Health Service, UK). 2023. Available from: [nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/ear-correction-surgery](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/ear-correction-surgery/) \[cited 2026 Oct 14\].

Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, 26 October 2026

## Articles on this subject

[Otoplasty (Prominent Ear Correction) · 6 min read Prominent ears: moulding in babies, and when otoplasty is done Why ears stand out, moulding in a baby’s first weeks, the usual age for otoplasty in children, adults, the operation, the headband, recovery and the risks. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/prominent-ears-when-is-otoplasty-done/)

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## Talk it through with Dr. Teker

Write on WhatsApp or call to request an appointment. Consultations take place at the practice in Bakırköy.

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