Houston Otoplasty & Ear Pinning for Protruding Ear

What is Otoplasty?

Otoplasty or ear pinning is a type of cosmetic ear surgery. This procedure reshapes the ear creating new folds and bringing the ear closer to the side of the head. Studies have shown that protruding ears or prominent ears have a significant psychologic impact on children as they mature. Children with this anomaly may be teased by their peers and frequently become self conscious of their prominent ears as they begin to become aware of their self-appearance.

Prominent ears or protruding ears are typically caused by cartilage that is mishapen and causes the ear to stick out. There is commonly a missing fold (antihelical fold) that brings the ear in closer to the side of the head. There may also be excess cartilage (conchal cartilage) pushing the ear out away from the head. These features are inherited genetically and can be passed from either parent.

Otoplasty creates a new antihelical fold for those patients with this anomaly using sutures and weakening the cartilage. Sutures are also placed from the conchal cartilage to the side of the head bringing the ear back and resetting it closer to the side of the head.

With otoplasty, an incision is made behind the ear that is well camouflaged and the cartilage is reshaped using suturing techniques and sculpting maneuvers. Older patients may need to have the “memory” removed from the cartilage so that it does not warp back to its previous position. Children’s cartilage is quite pliable and malleable and typically remains in place after reshaping.

Dr. Funk is double board certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery. During his otolaryngology training, he was frequently operating on ears and now has the aesthetic sense and plastic surgery skills to reshape and reposition the ears.

In addition, Dr. Funk completed his facial plastic surgery fellowship in Toronto. Canada treats protruding/prominent ears as a congenital malformation and, therefore, otoplasty is covered by insurance. This allowed Dr. Funk to perform countless numbers of otoplasties on patients under 18 years of age which has given him extensive experience in this procedure and its nuances.

 Otoplasty for protruding ears is not only for children, but is commonly performed on adults.  This patient had ear pinning for his protruding ears and has a very natural result to his ears.

Protruding ears can be a frustrating problem for many patients that have bothered them since their youth.  Notice the improvement in this man after otoplasty to pin his ears.  Chin implantation was also performed.

Otoplasty or ear pinning was performed on this patient in addition to a revision rhinoplasty.  

This patient had protruding ears and desired ear pinning surgery or otoplasty.  She also had rhinoplasty performed at the same time. 

This patient was always bothered by her protruding ears and desired cosmetic changes with ear pinning or otoplasty.

Female Otoplasty

Pediatric Otoplasty

Otoplasty FAQs

How old must a child be for otoplasty or ear pinning?

Eighty-five percent of the child’s ear has grown by three years of age. The majority of the ears’ growth is complete by six years of age. Otoplasty is applicable and safe in children at age five. They are beginning to have self-awareness at this stage and are entering a critical stage in their life with peer interaction at school.

What is Incisionless Otoplasty?

Incisionless otoplasty is a technique performed by Dr. Funk that reshapes the ear using suturing maneuvers only. It is not commonly performed by many surgeons and is quite a novel procedure. There is no incision in the skin and the sutures (stitches) are hidden underneath the skin. This can be performed in certain cases depending on the cause of the prominent/protruding ears.

It is an ideal procedure for the child as there is significantly less postoperative pain, decreased operating and anesthesia time, and no stitches that need to be removed. Patients get an excellent result without many of the postoperative concerns.

What is the recovery time for Otoplasty?

The procedure itself takes approximately two hours and the patient is able to go home the same day with a turban-like dressing. That dressing is removed the following day and the head is redraped lightly for one to three days. A headband is worn for two weeks and then only at night for an additional two weeks.