Is Ear Surgery Painful?

An otoplasty will be performed with local anesthesia to avoid patient discomfort or pain during the actual procedure. You will be prescribed medication to help with any pain or discomfort around the incision sites. For a brief time after surgery, your head will be wrapped in a bandage to hold the ears in place. This bandage is removed the next day for adult patients but may need to be in place for up to 10 days for children. Bandages are then replaced with a headband that will need to be worn for several weeks. Our team recommends planning for 5 to 7 days off work or school. All incisions leave scars, but the incisions made for otoplasty are focused on the back of the ear, where they are well concealed. Scars should fade and should not be noticeable over time. Patients find that the improvement in the appearance of the ears is worth some very minor scarring.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Every patient’s requirements will be different depending on their condition and the extent of otoplasty surgery necessary to achieve their desired results. Your surgeon will want to monitor your or your child’s healing progress to ensure the ears are adjusting to their new positions without incurring any additional health complications. The number of follow-up appointments necessary can be discussed in your individual consultation.

How Long Until I See Results?

The end goal of otoplasty is to achieve a more proportionate and natural look for the ears. Our patients are pleased to find that they no longer feel self-conscious about their ears. You’ll be able to achieve the best results by following your post-op instructions closely and being diligent about wearing your headband for the prescribed amount of time. Keep in mind that a minor amount of “give back” or re-protrusion can occur a few weeks after the procedure, but this should not be noticeable and is not something to be concerned about. After just a few days, you or your child will likely feel good enough to get back to regular daily activities. Most of our patients take about a week away from their jobs or school to ensure they are sufficiently recovered. You may feel a bit self-conscious about wearing a headband in public, but this is a minor factor that will allow you to enjoy a better appearance for many years to come. Our team recommends waiting until any swelling or bruising has reduced before properly evaluating your final results. Depending on each patient’s healing progress, this may take several weeks.

Can I Combine Ear Surgery With Other Procedures?

Otoplasty can be combined with other plastic surgery procedures and non-surgical treatments. These additional options are usually not recommended for younger patients, but adults who have otoplasty may choose to use this opportunity to change other things they don’t like about their appearance. For instance, you may choose to have a rhinoplasty , an injectable treatment like BOTOX ® Cosmetic, or injectable fillers for a more comprehensive refresh.

What Are the Risks Associated With Ear Surgery?

Any surgical procedure has some risk of complications and side effects. That said, ear surgery is a very safe and proven procedure and has been performed for millions of children and adults over the years. Risks may include: Reaction to the anesthesia used Infection Blood clots Noticeable scarring Your surgeon will review all the risks with you prior to your surgery date so that you are well-informed.

Ear Surgery

In Orange County

Introduction

Introduction to Ear Surgery

Having ears that “stick out” or protrude too far from the head can be embarrassing. Fortunately, there is a solution! Ear surgery, or “otoplasty,” is designed to correct the appearance of the ears by pinning them back closer to the head, reducing the size of large ears, repositioning the ears for symmetry, or addressing other abnormalities.

Otoplasties are one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures for children, but adults can benefit too! At Facial Aesthetic Concepts, dual board-certified facial plastic surgeons Richard A. Gangnes, M.D., and Bryan Brandon, M.D., offer flexible appointments for otoplasties in San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita in Southern California. Read on to learn more about how an otoplasty surgery can improve your facial profile, and schedule your complimentary consultation today.

Close-up of a young man with light skin and short dark brown hair, gazing thoughtfully to his right. His hand rests on his cheek near his ear, with fingers gently touching his face. He wears a plain cream-colored t-shirt against a neutral light gray background. The focus is on his face and upper body. - Ear Surgery in San Clamente, Aliso Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

What is Ear Surgery?

“Otoplasty” is the medical term for the surgical correction of protruding ears. The condition is genetic and can occur in both men and women. Your surgeon will “pull back” the ears by removing and modifying excess skin, tissue, and cartilage on the ear, repositioning the ears to be closer to the head, and then wrapping the ears to settle them briefly into their new positions.

An otoplasty results in hidden scarring, as the incisions are placed behind the ears and virtually unrecognizable after healing. The dramatic change and quick recovery rank otoplasty procedures among the highest in patient satisfaction of all cosmetic procedures.

What Are the Benefits of Ear Surgery?

Our patients across the greater Southern California area request otoplasties to enjoy the following benefits:

Correcting ear conditions such as cupping or folding or other abnormalities
Resizing the ears
Building new ears for patients with congenital disabilities or who have suffered trauma
Improved appearance and self-esteem
It is a relatively safe procedure when performed by an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon.

Who Are the Best Candidates For Ear Surgery?

Most patients qualify for an otoplasty if they struggle with misshapen or unnatural ear conditions. Dr. Brandon and Dr. Gangnes recommend that patients undergo otoplasty only after their ears have been fully developed. For this reason, most otoplasty procedures are performed on patients between the ages of 4 and 14 or adults in their twenties or thirties.

We also would like to inform our adult patients that smoking or chewing tobacco will inhibit circulation and negatively affect their surgical outcomes. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit at least 4 weeks before surgery, and you will be told when you are cleared to start smoking again if you so choose.

Get started today

What’s the First Step?

If you or your child may benefit from otoplasty, your first step is to schedule an otoplasty consultation. Facial Aesthetic Concepts offers convenient appointment times at San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita in Southern California to accommodate your needs.

The consultation is your opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the otoplasty procedure. During the consultation, Dr. Gangnes or Dr. Brandon will review you or your child’s medical history, examine the existing structure of your ears, and ask questions to understand how you want the ears to look after surgery. We will show you “before” and “after” pictures so that you can see some of the results they were able to achieve with previous ear surgery patients and advise on possible risks and side effects of an otoplasty.

If it is determined that you or your child is a good candidate for otoplasty, you’ll be given additional information, including detailed pricing for the procedure, pre-op instructions, and general office policies. You’ll never be pressured into booking surgery on the day of your consultation. We want you to be able to take the time to consider your options and make the best decision for your specific needs.

If you decide to proceed with surgery, our surgical coordinator will select a date with you and ensure you’ve completed all the necessary paperwork. You’ll be given specifics, including where the surgery will take place, how to prepare for it, post-op instructions, and much more.

What to Expect on the Day of Ear Surgery Surgery

On the day of your otoplasty procedure, your personal surgeon will meet with you or your child once more to review the surgical strategy previously discussed during your consultation and answer any outstanding questions. When you are ready, an anesthesiologist will administer local anesthesia to reduce or remove any pain you might feel during the procedure.

The Doctor will then modify and restructure the tissue on the ears to achieve the desired results. The procedure will typically take one to two hours and will be conducted as an outpatient procedure, meaning patients can return home the same day to begin recovery.

Ear Surgery Recovery

After surgery, patients can expect some bruising and swelling around the ears. This can be minimized by keeping the head upright, even during sleep. The bandage that is applied following surgery will be left on for 1 day for adult patients and up to 10 days for children. It’s important not to get the bandage wet.

Incisions should heal in about a week. After the bandage is removed at our office, it will be replaced with a headband that needs to be worn continuously for several weeks to protect the ears and hold them in place as healing continues.

Everyone heals from surgery a bit differently. The healing time will depend on the extent of your incisions and how quickly your body heals on its own. Most of our ear surgery patients are ready to return to work or school in about a week. You will need to avoid vigorous exercise, contact sports, and any activities that may impact the ears for 3 weeks.

Transparent Pricing

How Much Does Ear Surgery Cost in Orange County, CA?

The cost of ear surgery in San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and the greater Orange County area will be based on the extent of the surgery required and anesthesia and surgical facility fees. Our patient coordinator will be able to review your estimated costs and financing options during your consultation.

Why Choose Facial Aesthetic Concepts?

Since 1980, Facial Aesthetic Concepts has been a leading name in cosmetic surgery throughout Orange County and Los Angeles, specializing in procedures like facelifts, microlifts, and rhinoplasty. With a meticulous and artistic approach, both Dr. Richard A. Gangnes and Dr. Bryan Brandon are dedicated to achieving natural-looking results while ensuring a comfortable and collaborative experience. Having performed over 4,000 combined facial rejuvenation procedures, they combine technical precision with a focus on each patient’s unique aesthetic goals.

Dr. Richard A. Gangnes has over 30 years of experience in facial plastic surgery. He is a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon with both the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS) and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), and as a Fellow with the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

Dr. Bryan Brandon brings a wealth of expertise and education to our practice. He graduated as valedictorian in high school, earned a biomedical engineering degree from California Polytechnic University, and completed his medical training at UC Irvine. He further honed his craft through a prestigious fellowship with Dr. Vito Quatela in New York.

Ear Surgery FAQ’S

An otoplasty will be performed with local anesthesia to avoid patient discomfort or pain during the actual procedure. You will be prescribed medication to help with any pain or discomfort around the incision sites.

For a brief time after surgery, your head will be wrapped in a bandage to hold the ears in place. This bandage is removed the next day for adult patients but may need to be in place for up to 10 days for children. Bandages are then replaced with a headband that will need to be worn for several weeks. Our team recommends planning for 5 to 7 days off work or school.

All incisions leave scars, but the incisions made for otoplasty are focused on the back of the ear, where they are well concealed. Scars should fade and should not be noticeable over time. Patients find that the improvement in the appearance of the ears is worth some very minor scarring.
Every patient’s requirements will be different depending on their condition and the extent of otoplasty surgery necessary to achieve their desired results. Your surgeon will want to monitor your or your child’s healing progress to ensure the ears are adjusting to their new positions without incurring any additional health complications. The number of follow-up appointments necessary can be discussed in your individual consultation.
The end goal of otoplasty is to achieve a more proportionate and natural look for the ears. Our patients are pleased to find that they no longer feel self-conscious about their ears. You’ll be able to achieve the best results by following your post-op instructions closely and being diligent about wearing your headband for the prescribed amount of time. Keep in mind that a minor amount of “give back” or re-protrusion can occur a few weeks after the procedure, but this should not be noticeable and is not something to be concerned about.

After just a few days, you or your child will likely feel good enough to get back to regular daily activities. Most of our patients take about a week away from their jobs or school to ensure they are sufficiently recovered. You may feel a bit self-conscious about wearing a headband in public, but this is a minor factor that will allow you to enjoy a better appearance for many years to come.

Our team recommends waiting until any swelling or bruising has reduced before properly evaluating your final results. Depending on each patient’s healing progress, this may take several weeks.
Otoplasty can be combined with other plastic surgery procedures and non-surgical treatments. These additional options are usually not recommended for younger patients, but adults who have otoplasty may choose to use this opportunity to change other things they don’t like about their appearance. For instance, you may choose to have a rhinoplasty, an injectable treatment like BOTOX® Cosmetic, or injectable fillers for a more comprehensive refresh.
Any surgical procedure has some risk of complications and side effects. That said, ear surgery is a very safe and proven procedure and has been performed for millions of children and adults over the years. Risks may include:
- Reaction to the anesthesia used
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Noticeable scarring
Your surgeon will review all the risks with you prior to your surgery date so that you are well-informed.

Schedule A
Consultation

When deciding to have any plastic surgery procedure, you already know that you want to find the best plastic surgeon in Southern California. Facial Aesthetic Concepts uses state-of-the-art technology combined with the latest medical training and techniques to give you the best results possible.

Our distinguished surgeons and surgery centers have served Orange County for over 30 years. Please schedule a consultation at any of our three Facial Aesthetic Concepts locations in Southern California: San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, or Rancho Santa Margarita. You may contact us online through our booking form to schedule an appointment at your convenience.