If you’re curious how ear surgery—also known as otoplasty—can affect one’s appearance, take a look at our otoplasty photo gallery. Here you can see the amazing results that our board-certified plastic surgery team has achieved for their patients’ aesthetic goals.

What is an Otoplasty (Ear Surgery)?

Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, can greatly improve one’s facial appearance by reducing or reshaping the ears. When people usually think of procedures that improve the appearance of the face, most are familiar with facelifts or rhinoplasty. However, by correcting even subtle ear defects from birth or misshapen ears caused by injury, patients can give their faces a more symmetrical, natural shape.

Top San Diego plastic surgeons are known to achieve great otoplasty results by setting back the ears, so they appear natural and proportionate to the head. Once corrected, the ears appear normal from the front, rear, and side. Otoplasty surgery is mostly performed on adults, but our surgeons can also treat children as young as six years old to improve their appearance and self-confidence.

Who Typically Wants Otoplasty Surgery?

Typical patients who want ear surgery are those whose ears do not entirely meet their ideal appearance. Cosmetic ear surgery can correct disproportionate or mispositioned ears to create a more uniform face shape. Common reasons for wanting an otoplasty include overly large ears (also called macrotia) or ears that “stick out” or protrude farther from the head than desired. Any condition that leaves patients feeling too self-conscious to put their hair up or reveal their ears in an otherwise normal way is a potential candidate for ear surgery.

Model pouting her lips while looking over her shoulder

Our Ear Surgery Team Meet Dr. Cameron Francis

In addition to Dr. Chasan, Ranch & Coast is proud to present Dr. Cameron Francis as an ear surgeon. Dr. Francis is our newest addition to Ranch and Coast Plastic Surgery. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology from UCLA, he attended UC San Diego School of Medicine, where he earned his M.D.

He then embarked on a two-year research fellowship in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles before completing his plastic surgery training in the University of Southern California’s prestigious six-year integrated plastic surgery residency.

Dr. Francis has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles, many representing original research in plastic surgery. His aesthetic surgery interests include otoplasty, breast augmentation, and body contouring.

Otoplasty Treatment & Technique

In performing otoplasty surgery, your surgeon will first make an incision in the natural fold behind the ear. He will then remove excess cartilage and skin from the earlobe in order to make a more natural ear shape. Your surgeon will then perform an ear pinning method that takes the modified parts of the ear and attaches them to existing structures of the ear in order to keep them in place. Sometimes cartilage removal is not required, and your surgeon will use stitches to hold the cartilage in place. Not every procedure is the same. Each unique instance requires your surgeon to apply his reshaping and sculpting skills to find the best method that will suit our patients’ needs.

Before & After

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How Much Does an Otoplasty Cost?

Otoplasty patients in San Diego can expect the cost of their surgery to cost between $5,500 —$7,500. Due to the variability of cases, some otoplasty procedures are priced higher depending upon the level of surgical complexity.

Model with short hair looking dramatically into camera

Otoplasty Recovery & Results

The recovery period for ear reshaping surgery is about seven days. During this time, patients are not to put any pressure on the head dressings, which could disrupt the healing process. Once the head dressings are removed, patients often find that they see a significant difference in their appearance and, as a result, their self-esteem. With cosmetic ear surgery, there is usually minimal visible scarring after the procedure, as the ears will be positioned closer to the head, and the scar is usually located in a natural fold behind the ear. Otoplasty surgery does not affect the patient’s hearing.

Ear Surgery