Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
Are your ears drawing attention for the wrong reasons? Ear surgery can restore balance, symmetry, and confidence — for both children and adults.
When to Consider Ear Surgery
Are your ears drawing attention for the wrong reasons?
Among all facial features, the ears are uniquely positioned — literally and figuratively — to shape how others perceive us and how we see ourselves. Ears that project too far from the head, sit unevenly, carry an unusual contour, or bear the marks of an old injury have a way of becoming the focal point of a face rather than a quiet, balanced part of it. For children especially, this can translate into unwanted attention at school and a loss of confidence during some of the most formative years of their lives.
Dr. Robinson recommends otoplasty — cosmetic ear surgery, sometimes referred to as ear pinning — to patients across all age groups whose ears create aesthetic imbalance, whether through excessive projection, irregular shape, asymmetry, or structural irregularities present from birth.
Otoplasty can address ears that project noticeably away from the sides of the head, uneven or asymmetrical ear placement, irregular cartilage contours or structural birth anomalies, earlobes that are stretched, torn, or distorted from injury, and dissatisfaction with the outcome of a prior ear procedure. Dr. Robinson performs ear surgery on both children and adults once the ears have matured — a milestone most patients reach around their fifth or sixth birthday.
Dr. Ernest B. Robinson is a Board Certified Specialist in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery with more than 20 years of experience performing cosmetic and corrective otoplasty for his patients from Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Hills and Santa Ana in Orange County and beyond.
Communicating Your Goals for This Procedure
Each ear is unique in terms of its position, anatomy, and type of issue. For this reason, before discussing any surgical strategy, Dr. Robinson starts with a comprehensive, leisurely conversation. He will review your medical history, carefully examine the shape and position of each ear, and take note of any asymmetry between the two. Photographs are typically taken at this stage to aid in planning.
From there, Dr. Robinson will walk you through the surgical approach he recommends for your specific anatomy and the goals you've described. He will set clear, honest expectations — explaining what the procedure can achieve, what the recovery looks like, and how the final result will integrate with the overall proportions of your face.
In many cases, he may recommend addressing both ears even when only one appears to need correction, as this produces the most balanced and naturally symmetrical outcome. Every recommendation is rooted in your individual anatomy and personal aesthetic goals — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Dr. Robinson performs ear surgery on both children and adults. Most children reach the ear maturity milestone needed for surgery around their fifth or sixth birthday — and early correction can have lasting benefits on confidence and social development throughout their formative years.
👦 Children & Teens
Dr. Robinson recommends otoplasty for children once the ears have reached their full size — typically around age 5 or 6. Early correction can have a meaningful, lasting impact on a child's confidence, social ease, and overall wellbeing throughout development.
🧑 Adults
Adult patients benefit equally from ear surgery. Whether addressing a lifelong concern or the effects of injury or a previous procedure, otoplasty delivers permanent, natural-looking results with a short recovery and minimal disruption to daily life.
- Comprehensive review of medical history and ear anatomy
- Photography taken to aid in surgical planning
- Clear, honest discussion of achievable outcomes
- Both ears assessed — even if only one appears to need correction
- Personalized surgical plan tailored to your individual anatomy
- Both cosmetic and reconstructive concerns addressed
Surgical Techniques to Achieve Your Desired Outcome
Ear surgery typically requires one to two hours and can be performed at Robinson Facial Plastic Surgery or at Pacific Hills Surgery Center. Dr. Robinson uses local anesthetic with mild sedation for older patients and teenagers, and general anesthesia for younger children.
Anesthesia Selection
Local anesthetic with a mild sedative is used for older patients and teenagers. General anesthesia is used for younger children to ensure comfort and safety throughout the procedure.
Concealed Incision Placement
The surgery begins with a carefully placed incision in the natural crease where the back of the ear meets the head — a location that keeps any resulting scar well-concealed once healed.
Cartilage Sculpting & Repositioning
Through the incision, Dr. Robinson directly accesses the cartilage framework of the ear. Depending on your specific concern, he may sculpt, remove, or reposition cartilage tissue to bring the ear to its desired angle and contour.
Suture Securing
The repositioned cartilage is secured with sutures that hold everything precisely in place during the healing process — ensuring the new position is maintained permanently as tissue heals.
Reconstructive Work (if applicable)
For patients with torn or elongated earlobes, or those requiring reconstructive work from a prior procedure or injury, additional targeted techniques are used to restore the natural form of the ear.
Protective Dressing Applied
At the close of surgery, a soft protective wrap is applied over the treated ear or ears — shielding the surgical site and maintaining the ears in their corrected position during the initial stages of healing.
Recuperating After Your Ear Surgery
Most patients wear the protective wrap for approximately one to two weeks, and some are advised to use a supportive headband during nighttime hours for added protection as recovery continues.
Tenderness and mild swelling around the ears and sides of the face are normal in the first day or two following surgery, and are straightforwardly managed with the pain relief options Dr. Robinson recommends. You will need to avoid resting on your ears or applying pressure to the area until healing has progressed sufficiently — typically around a week.
Most patients are able to return to their normal daily schedule within four to five days, with the all-clear for moderate activity coming shortly after. Strenuous exercise and contact sports should be set aside for several weeks to allow complete healing without disruption.
Dr. Robinson will guide you through each stage of recovery with detailed aftercare instructions and scheduled check-ins to track your progress.
Expected Results from This Procedure
The transformation achieved through ear surgery becomes apparent almost immediately once the protective dressing is removed. What patients typically notice first is not just the changed position of the ears, but the way the face reads as a whole — more balanced, more proportionate, and no longer dominated by a single feature that previously drew unwanted attention.
Because the surgical incisions are placed in natural, concealed folds, visible scarring is minimal and continues to fade in the weeks following the procedure.
Importantly, otoplasty has no effect on hearing function — the procedure addresses only the outer ear's form and position. The results are permanent. For patients who have the procedure during childhood, the benefits extend well beyond appearance — studies consistently find that children who undergo ear correction early experience measurable gains in confidence and social ease throughout their development.
- More balanced, proportionate facial appearance immediately after dressing removal
- Ears repositioned to a natural, harmonious angle relative to the face
- Incisions hidden in the natural crease behind the ear — minimal visible scarring
- Scarring continues to fade naturally in the weeks following surgery
- No effect on hearing function — only the outer ear's form is addressed
- Results are permanent and enduring for both children and adults
Before & After Results
This website does not contain medical advice and the use of this website does not create a physician/patient relationship between you and Robinson Facial Plastic Surgery. The photographs of models displayed on this web site are for decorative purposes only. See before & after photos for possible results.
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- Phone : (949) 831- 5900
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