Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) in New York, NY

For most of us, there is no functional advantage to having large prominent ears. Otoplasty is the surgical repair or restoration of the ear's auricle (the external element). At the Klausner Institute, otoplasty, also called ear pinning, can help curb your ear imperfections. Otoplasty is most commonly performed to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. Additionally, otoplasty can reshape the external ear, correcting congenital conditions, such as “shell ear,” “lop ear,” and “cupped ear.” While some ear surgery is performed to repair injuries to the auricle caused by past trauma, ear surgery can also address issues involving the ear lobes. Ear lobes that are too large may be reduced. Ear lobes that are wrinkled and creased may be rejuvenated. Ear lobes where the pierced site has torn or become too large may be repaired. If you are unsure whether or not your ear issues can be reformed by ear surgery, we are happy to answer your questions during your consultation with Dr. Klausner. Otoplasty is a specialty procedure of female plastic surgeon Lee Ann M. Klausner, M.D., a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York, NY.

Children and adults may be candidates for ear surgery, but a health evaluation is necessary before Dr. Klausner can recommend the best surgical approach. Ideal candidates have no medical conditions that would impair healing and understand that the goal of this procedure is to improve their appearance, not achieve perfection. Please inform our staff about any previous surgeries, medications, smoking habits, and allergies for the purposes of your preoperative evaluation.

• Safe and effective — risk is minimal with a quick two week recovery time
• Results are natural-looking and permanent
• Easily corrects large, prominent ears
• Can repair damage to ears due to injury or trauma
• Improves overall facial aesthetics
• Increases self-confidence and boosts self-image
• Can be done for anyone after about age four

There are distinct structural features that cause the protrusion of the ear. Lack of development or partial development of the fold of the external ear rim (the antihelical fold) or an external ear bowl (the conchal bowl) that is too deep will be typically seen. In most cases, it is a combination of these features that may need to be adjusted during the surgery. Otoplasty is the medical name of the surgery done to minimize the appearance of prominent ears. In New York, NY, Dr. Klausner is recognized as one of the leading female facial plastic surgeons handling the otoplasty procedure at her office.

Frequently, otoplasty is performed on the child between the ages of 4 and 14. The procedure cannot be performed earlier than four years of age because the external ear does not fully develop and reach its normal adult size until four years of age. It is common for children to have ear surgery in childhood so to escape ridicule that might come from other less sensitive peers as they grow older. For parents seeking otoplasty/ear surgery to correct their child’s prominent ears, the decision to undergo ear surgery should be based on the child’s motivation and not solely on the parents. Parents should pay attention to their child’s feelings. Parents should not insist on ear surgery to correct protruding ears until their child requests the change. Children who feel bothered by their protruding ears and ask for the surgery are far more likely to be cooperative during the process and happy with the result.

Frequently, an individual with one or two prominent ears who did not consider otoplasty during childhood will seek otoplasty as an adult. There is no additional risk to performing ear surgery for prominent ears in adults. Commonly, one ear can be more prominent than the other. As individuals, our external ears and other facial features are not identical to one another. It is important to realize that even after otoplasty, some differences between the ears will still exist.

Whatever your reason for considering otoplasty or ear surgery, you can trust New York, NY facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann M. Klausner, M.D. to make your experience a safe and successful one. If you are ready to take the next step, please schedule a consultation for ear surgery online or schedule over the phone.

During your consultation, Dr. Klausner will ask you to describe any concerns you may have for the size, shape, or position of your ears. After a full examination of the area, Dr. Klausner will provide you with feedback detailing your best options for reshaping your ears. Before any final decisions are made, you will be able to look through our photo gallery of other ear surgery patients. The photo gallery displays detailed before-and-after photos, as well as case descriptions about each patient.

How long do ear surgery results last?

Our faces change due to factors like gravity and natural aging. However, the results of your ear surgery should be long-lasting, especially when working with a professional like Dr. Klausner. During your initial consultation for otoplasty, we can review what to expect and if you're a good candidate for this state-of-the-art procedure.

How old should my child be to consider otoplasty?

As we mentioned, ear surgery is normally performed on children between the ages of 4 and 14. This is important because a child's ears are still growing and developing during this time. If you're older than 14, the Klausner Institute might recommend an otoplasty consultation for adults.

Do I need to have both ears done or just one?

In general, otoplasty is symmetrically performed on both ears. While this procedure can technically correct one ear, we usually address the second ear during surgery. When creating your surgical plan in New York, NY, our team can let you know if one or both ears need to be corrected. It depends on your desired results.