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Consultation
Good candidates are healthy non-smokers with realistic expectations.
For many patients, otoplasty is a quietly transformative procedure that resolves a lifelong source of self-consciousness.Prominent ears are usually the result of genetics, with the ear cartilage failing to fold properly during development. Other patients have asymmetric ears, oversized earlobes, or deformities from injury or torn earlobes.
Otoplasty addresses these concerns by reshaping the cartilage, repositioning the ear closer to the head, and refining the overall contour. The goal is not to create an ear of any particular shape, but rather to make the ears recede visually so they no longer draw attention. After surgery, most patients feel that they can wear their hair however they like without thinking about it.
Otoplasty can be safely performed on children as young as five or six years old, once ear development is largely complete. Many parents in Central Oregon choose this timing to address prominent ears before their child experiences teasing in school. Adult candidates include healthy individuals who have always been bothered by their ear shape or position, or who have experienced ear trauma, including stretched or torn earlobes from gauges or earrings. Good candidates are healthy non-smokers with realistic expectations.
Patients across Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, and the broader Pacific Northwest seek otoplasty for both their children and themselves. For children, the procedure is often performed before middle school to prevent social difficulties. Adults often pursue otoplasty after a lifetime of avoiding short haircuts, ponytails, or up-dos. Earlobe repair is another common request, particularly for patients who have stretched or torn earlobes from heavy earrings, earring trauma, or previous gauging.
Otoplasty is usually performed in the office under local anesthesia with sedation, or under general anesthesia in younger children. The incisions are hidden in the natural crease behind the ear, where they heal as nearly invisible lines. After surgery, patients wear a soft head wrap for several days followed by a headband at night for several weeks to protect the ears during healing. Most adults return to work within five to seven days, and most children return to school within a week. Strenuous activity is restricted for three to four weeks.
No patients or photos available for this procedure.
Good candidates are healthy non-smokers with realistic expectations.
Otoplasty is usually performed in the office under local anesthesia with sedation, or under general anesthesia in younger children.
After surgery, patients wear a soft head wrap for several days followed by a headband at night for several weeks to protect the ears during healing.
Otoplasty results are designed to be permanent.
The average procedure time varies based on your personalized treatment plan and the complexity of the procedure performed
Most patients are able to return to light daily activities within a short recovery period while healing continues gradually over time
Your follow-up appointments are designed to monitor healing, support, recovery, and ensure your results continue progressing naturally.
The location of your procedure is determined vary based on your personalized needs and the complexity of the procedure performed
We understand that choosing a procedure is a deeply personal decision. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about treatment, recovery, results, and the overall Alpenaura experience.
Most surgeons consider age five to six the earliest reasonable time, when ear development is largely complete. Many families choose to schedule the procedure before their child enters middle school.
The incision is placed on the back of the ear, within or near the natural crease where the ear meets the head — a location that's essentially hidden from view in everyday life. Once healed, the scar is very difficult to see even when someone is looking directly at the side of the head; someone would need to look behind the ear to find it.
Otoplasty results are permanent. Once the cartilage is reshaped and heals in its new position, the correction holds for life — the ears do not gradually return to their previous prominence. It's one of the most stable and enduring procedures in plastic surgery, which is part of why it's so often performed in childhood with confidence.
Earlobe repair is a related but separate procedure — a brief, in-office treatment under local anesthesia that corrects lobes torn by earrings or stretched by gauges or time. It can be performed on its own or alongside otoplasty when both concerns are present. If your interest is the earlobe rather than ear prominence, mention it at your consultation; it's typically a much smaller undertaking than full otoplasty.
Discomfort is generally mild to moderate and short-lived. Adults typically have the procedure under local anesthesia with or without sedation; children are usually treated under general anesthesia for comfort and stillness. Afterward, soreness and a sensation of tightness are normal for the first few days and are usually well controlled with medication. A soft headband dressing protects the ears early in healing, and most patients describe the recovery as easier than they expected.
Most adults return to work within five to seven days, and children can typically return to school in about a week. A protective headband is worn continuously at first, then at night for several weeks to guard the ears during sleep. Contact sports and activities with a risk of pulling or bending the ears are usually restricted for about a month. Swelling settles over the first few weeks, with the refined shape fully emerging as healing completes.
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Experience personalized plastic surgery and aesthetic care designed to enhance confidence with natural, refined results.
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Experience personalized plastic surgery and aesthetic care designed to enhance confidence with natural, refined results.