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Otoplasty - ear reshaping, done properly.

Prominent-ear correction for adults under local anaesthetic and children from around age 5 - plus earlobe repair and ear reconstruction. A GMC specialist-registered plastic surgeon, honest talk about recurrence, and a proper cooling-off period before you commit.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private otoplasty costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner plastic surgery units.

In short

£3,000–£5,500, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
Otoplasty, both ears - adult, local anaesthetic £3,000–£5,500
Otoplasty, both ears - child, general anaesthetic £4,000–£6,500
Otoplasty, one ear £2,500–£4,000
Earlobe repair (split or stretched lobe) £900–£1,800
Revision otoplasty £3,500–£6,000
Plastic surgery consultation (often redeemable) £150–£250

Prices vary by surgeon seniority, by city, by anaesthetic (a general anaesthetic and paediatric team add cost), and by whether a revision policy is bundled in. Otoplasty is almost always self-pay - check what the quote includes: surgeon, anaesthetist, facility, dressings and follow-up should all be in one figure.

The problem

Cosmetic surgery is where marketing outruns medicine.

Otoplasty is heavily advertised, lightly regulated in places, and sold hard to worried parents. We put a specialist surgeon, honest numbers and a cooling-off period between you and the decision.

  • Check the register, not the website

    Glossy clinics are not credentials. We only introduce surgeons on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery, with their own results to show you.

  • For children, the child decides too

    From around age 5 the operation is possible - but it should happen when the child wants it, understands it, and will wear the headband. We never rush that.

  • Know the revision policy before you pay

    Around 1 in 20 ears needs a revision. A good quote states plainly whether revision is included and for how long - we make sure yours does.

When it helps

When otoplasty is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag after surgery that means same-day care rather than a routine appointment.

  • Prominent ears that bother you

    Ears that stick out more than about 2 cm from the head - usually an underdeveloped antihelical fold, a deep conchal bowl, or both. The classic pinnaplasty case.

  • A child being teased at school

    From around age 5, when the cartilage is mature enough and the child themselves wants the change - never on parental wish alone.

  • Asymmetry between the two ears

    One ear prominent, one not - or two differently shaped ears. Surgery on one or both sides to bring them into balance.

  • Split or torn earlobe

    A lobe torn by an earring or heavy jewellery - repaired under local anaesthetic in under an hour, with re-piercing possible after about three months.

  • Stretched or gauged earlobes

    Lobes stretched by flesh tunnels that will not shrink back - reconstructed to a natural shape as a day-case.

  • Confidence, hairstyles, photographs

    Adults who have spent decades hiding their ears under hair or hats. Otoplasty is one of the most reliably satisfying cosmetic operations.

  • Ear deformity or previous surgery

    Constricted, cupped or shell ears, and reconstruction after trauma, cancer surgery or an otoplasty elsewhere that has not gone well.

  • Red flag: a painful, expanding lump after surgery

    A tense, painful swelling of the ear in the days after any ear surgery may be a haematoma - it needs same-day drainage to protect the cartilage, not a routine call.

Procedure options

Technique and anaesthetic both depend on the ear - and the patient.

What each option involves - from the standard suture and scoring techniques through earlobe repair to full ear reconstruction, and the local-versus-general anaesthetic choice.

  • Suture-technique otoplasty (Mustardé)

    The mainstay. Permanent sutures placed through the cartilage from behind fold the antihelix into a natural curve and set the ear back. No cartilage removed.

  • Cartilage-scoring otoplasty

    The front of the cartilage is lightly scored so it bends and holds its new fold. Often combined with sutures - the mix depends on how stiff the cartilage is.

  • Conchal setback

    When a deep conchal bowl pushes the whole ear outwards, sutures anchor it back towards the mastoid - often the key move in adult otoplasty.

  • Adult otoplasty under local anaesthetic

    Awake, numbed, 60–90 minutes, home the same hour. The standard route for adults and older teenagers.

  • Child otoplasty under general anaesthetic

    From around age 5, once the ear is near adult size. A short general anaesthetic as a day-case, with a paediatric anaesthetist.

  • Earlobe repair

    Split, torn or stretched lobes repaired under local anaesthetic in 30–45 minutes. Re-piercing usually possible after three months.

  • Revision otoplasty

    Correction of recurrence, over-correction or asymmetry after previous surgery. More demanding than a first operation - surgeon selection matters most here.

  • Ear reconstruction

    For microtia, trauma or after skin cancer surgery - staged reconstruction using rib cartilage or implants, in a small number of specialist UK units.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Otoplasty is safe, well-established day surgery. The things worth planning are the headband weeks, the small but real recurrence rate, and knowing the one early complication that cannot wait.

  • Local for adults, general for children

    Adults have otoplasty awake under local anaesthetic as a day-case. Children need a short general anaesthetic - with a paediatric anaesthetist and a CQC-registered facility.

  • Haematoma - the early one to know

    Bleeding under the skin in the first days causes a tense, painful ear and can damage cartilage. It affects a small minority but needs same-day drainage - call immediately, do not wait.

  • Infection and cartilage inflammation

    Wound infection is uncommon; infection reaching the cartilage (chondritis) is rare but serious. Fever, spreading redness or increasing pain after day three deserve a same-day review.

  • Recurrence - about 1 in 20 need a revision

    Cartilage has memory. Some degree of the prominence returning affects a minority, and around 5 percent of patients choose revision surgery. Ask your surgeon their revision rate and policy.

  • Asymmetry and over-correction

    No two ears are identical before surgery or after. Small differences are normal; an ear pinned too flat looks operated - a reason to choose an experienced plastic surgeon.

  • Scarring, including keloid

    The scar sits hidden in the crease behind the ear. Thickened or keloid scars are uncommon but more likely in predisposed skin - mention any history of keloid at consultation.

  • Numbness and sensitivity

    Patches of numbness or cold sensitivity around the ear are common early on and usually settle over weeks to a few months.

  • The headband is half the operation

    Day and night for the first 1–2 weeks, then every night for 4–6 weeks. Skipping it is the most avoidable cause of recurrence - especially in children who sleep on their side.

  • Red flags after surgery

    A tense, painful, swelling ear, fever, spreading redness, discharge or bleeding through the dressings need the same-day team or A&E, not a routine call.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever technique was used - sutures, scoring or both - the note the plastic surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant plastic surgeon reviewing a patient’s otoplasty operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note and the headband plan before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, side and anaesthetic

    Why the operation was done, whether one or both ears were corrected, and whether it was under local or general anaesthetic.

  2. 02 Technique

    Incision, sutures and scoring

    The approach behind the ear, the Mustardé and conchal sutures placed, any cartilage scoring or excision, and how the wound was closed and dressed.

  3. 03 Findings

    Cartilage quality and correction achieved

    How stiff or springy the cartilage was, the degree of setback achieved on the table, and how the two sides compare.

  4. 04 Impression

    Headband plan and follow-up

    Read this first: exactly when dressings come off, the day-and-night then nights-only headband schedule, activity restrictions, and the review date.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Otoplasty is classed as cosmetic, so it is almost always self-pay - insurers exclude it and NHS funding is rare. Insurance may still cover related care, such as earlobe repair after trauma or reconstruction after skin cancer surgery. We tell you honestly which applies before anything is booked.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about otoplasty.

Quick answers on children, anaesthetic, the headband weeks, recurrence, cost and checking a surgeon’s credentials.

  • What does otoplasty actually involve?

    Through an incision hidden in the crease behind the ear, the surgeon reshapes the cartilage - permanent Mustardé sutures fold the antihelix into a natural curve, scoring helps stiff cartilage hold the bend, and conchal sutures set the whole ear back towards the head. It takes 60–90 minutes for both ears and you go home the same day.

  • At what age can a child have their ears pinned back?

    Usually from around age 5, when the ear has reached close to adult size and the cartilage is firm enough to hold sutures. Just as important: the child should want the operation themselves - surgeons will not operate on parental wish alone, and a motivated child copes far better with the headband weeks.

  • Will I be awake during the operation?

    Adults and most older teenagers have otoplasty under local anaesthetic - the ears are fully numbed, you feel pressure but no pain, and many patients listen to music. Children have a short general anaesthetic as a day-case. Either way you are home the same day.

  • How long is recovery, and when will I see the result?

    A head bandage for the first few days to a week, then a soft headband day and night for 1–2 weeks and every night for 4–6 weeks. Back to school or desk work in about a week, swimming at 4–6 weeks, contact sport at 8–12 weeks. The shape is visible when the dressings come off; the final settled result takes a few months as swelling resolves.

  • How much does otoplasty cost in the UK?

    Typically £3,000–£5,500 for both ears in an adult under local anaesthetic, £4,000–£6,500 for a child under general anaesthetic, and £2,500–£4,000 for one ear. Earlobe repair runs £900–£1,800 and consultations £150–£250, often redeemable against surgery.

  • Is otoplasty available on the NHS, or covered by insurance?

    Rarely. Otoplasty is classed as cosmetic, so NHS funding is exceptional - some integrated care boards will fund children with documented significant psychological distress, but criteria vary by area and most applications are declined. Private medical insurers exclude cosmetic surgery too, so almost all otoplasty in the UK is self-pay.

  • Can the ears become prominent again?

    Cartilage has memory, and some recurrence of the prominence affects a minority of patients - around 5 percent go on to have a revision. Wearing the headband exactly as prescribed is the biggest thing you control. Ask any surgeon you consult about their personal revision rate and whether revisions are included in the fee.

  • How do I know a surgeon is properly qualified?

    Check they are on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery - anyone can search the register free at gmc-uk.org - and look for BAPRAS or BAAPS membership. Ask to see their own before-and-after photographs, not stock images, and expect a two-week cooling-off period.

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