NEWS Aftercare provided by Registered Nurses when needed • Dual Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon • Advanced Fellowship-Trained in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery • Over 21 Years at Pacific Hills Surgery Center • Exclusive Allergan Provider • 100% Authentic Products • Most Advanced Laser Hair Removal Technology • Thousands of Referrals Upon Request Advanced Fellowship Trained in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Caring for your surgery is as simple as taking a shower and applying ointment. Dr. Robinson has been operating out of Pacific Hills Surgery Center for the past 21 years. We Only Inject 100% Authentic Products. Dual Board Certified. Exclusive Allergan Provider. #1 Referral Source Is Our Patients. We Offer The Most Advanced Laser Hair Removal Machine. Thousands Of Referrals Upon Request.
Robinson-logo (1)
BOOK NOW

Ear Surgery Aliso Viejo Cosmetic Ear Surgery

Are your ears drawing attention for the wrong reasons?

When to Consider Ear Surgery

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. Make an appointment with Dr. Robinson by phone, email, or filling out this form to discuss how this surgery will help you achieve your individual aesthetic objectives.

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 to their full size — a milestone most patients reach around their fifth or sixth birthday. Whether the concern is cosmetic, reconstructive, or both, the results of ear surgery are visible, meaningful, and achieved with minimal disruption to daily life.

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. If you’re considering ear surgery for yourself or your child, contact Robinson Facial Plastic Surgery in Aliso Viejo to request a consultation. Call, email, or complete this form to schedule an appointment with Dr. Robinson and take the first step toward a more balanced, confident appearance.

Communicating your goals for this procedure

Surgical techniques to achieve your desired outcome

Recuperating after your Ear Surgery

Expected results from this procedure

Patient Testimonials

Before & After Gallery

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 he makes is rooted in your individual anatomy and your personal aesthetic goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

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 a local anesthetic with a mild sedative for older patients and teenagers, and general anesthesia for younger children, to ensure comfort and safety throughout the procedure.

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. Through this incision, Dr. Robinson accesses the cartilage framework of the ear directly. Depending on your specific concern, he may sculpt, remove, or reposition cartilage tissue to bring the ear to its desired angle and contour, and secure it with sutures that hold everything precisely in place during healing. For patients with torn or elongated earlobes, or those requiring reconstructive work, additional targeted techniques are used to restore the natural form of the ear. Throughout every step, Dr. Robinson’s approach is guided by an eye for proportion — the result should look like the ears you were always meant to have.

Recuperating After Your Ear Surgery

At the close of surgery, Dr. Robinson will apply a soft protective wrap over the treated ear or ears. This dressing serves two purposes: shielding the surgical site and maintaining the ears in their corrected position during the initial stages of healing. Most patients wear this 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, and 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. For adult patients, the impact is no less significant — a single procedure, with a short recovery and enduring results, can reframe the relationship a person has with their own reflection for years to come.