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Otoplasty

Protruding or misshapen ears can have a significant impact on an individual’s self-esteem. For this particular defect, children face a difficult struggle as they navigate through their developing social world. For adults, the unwanted attention can make it hard to feel especially attractive or build self-esteem. Women often try and mask their protruding ears by wearing their hair down. Ears should naturally lay close to the head to help outline the face and create a balanced proportion and symmetry to the entire face. For any person that is embarrassed, uncomfortable or self-conscious about the appearance of their ears, a surgical treatment called otoplasty (or ear pinning surgery) can reshape the ears to a normal, natural contour. We each have extensive training in the surgical treatment of the external ear and offer a technique with highly reliable results. Request your consultation online or call (650) 327-3232 to schedule an appointment to see us at our Bay Area offices in Palo Alto or Los Gatos.

Otoplasty
 Before & After Photos

Case: 1 of 4

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Case: 1 of 4

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Simple fix to improve the look of the ears

Case: 1 of 3

Otoplasty for to even out the ears appearance

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This young woman was bothered by one of her ears protruding. An Otoplasty is a simple solution to this concern. What seems to be a small surgery to our practice, gives life changing results to our patients. 

Before & After

Case: 2 of 3

Ear Pinning For 25 Year Old Male

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This wonderful patient from Menlo Park had never liked his protruding ears, so he came to see Drs. Lieberman and Parikh for an otoplasty or ear-pinning surgery. These photos were taken one week after his otoplasty which was done under local anesthesia in less than 2 hours. Notice the improved contour and relationship of his ear... Read More

Before & After

Case: 3 of 3

Otoplasty for Man from San Carlos

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This man from San Carlos cannot believe what a change in confidence such a small physical change could make. After getting the otoplasty, or ear-pinning surgery from Drs. Lieberman & Parikh, he was finally able to put himself in the dating scene and take more risks at work. He says the surgery was "life-changing." Read More

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Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

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Pre-Operative Process

Am I a candidate for otoplasty (ear pinning)?

Common reasons for seeking out this type of surgery:

• Oversized ears
• Ears that protrude from the sides of the head
• Misshapen ears with abnormal folds or contours

Parents often ask about timing for treating their children’s ears. This can be a very personal decision for a family. If possible, we recommend correcting these deformities just before elementary school starts. This time typically coincides with a change in the social environment in schools, when a child is at higher risk of being teased or insulted.

We have also treated many older children and adults who never addressed their ears at an earlier age. We pride ourselves in being able to deliver extremely successful surgical correction for patients of any age that deal with this deformity. It is extremely rewarding to eliminate a feature that may have a negative impact on one’s self-esteem.

Meet Our Surgeons

Get to know our world-class, board-certified facial plastic surgeons, known for the precision of their work and consistently satisfied patients.

Dr. Parikh

Dr. Lieberman

Dr. Curti

Technique

How is this surgery performed?

Prior to an otoplasty, your surgeon will take time to assess the most natural position of ears. The surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure takes 1-2 hours to complete. Internal sutures are placed in precise locations in order to create the desired contour and shape of the ear. There are some instances where excess cartilage needs to be excised and sutures can be used to bring the ear closer to the head. All incisions are hidden on the backside of the ear in the natural folds.

Post-Operative Recovery Process

What should I expect after my otoplasty?

Patients return home the same day of surgery after recovering from either sedation or anesthesia. You will need a friend or family member to drive you home following the procedure. Patients should expect about a one-week recovery. Each patient will receive a headband that protects the ears as they recover. This is worn all day for the first few days and then at night only for a few weeks. We advise most patients to avoid strenuous exercise for 2-3 weeks after their procedure. Any form of contact sports should be avoided for 6 weeks.

The ear is a complex blend of contour and shadowing. To recreate a natural contour of an ear requires precise manipulation of the skin and cartilage. It is essential that the ears are set at a natural position, not “pulled” too tightly. We have extensive experience with cosmetic surgery of the ear, but also take great pride in our reconstructive ear surgery for congenital and traumatic ear defects. Our experience allows us to deliver consistent and reliable results. Correction of even minor deformities can have profound benefits to appearance and self-esteem. We have provided otoplasty before and after photos of our patients to help you visualize the possibilities.

Request your consultation online or call (650) 327-3232 to schedule an appointment to see us in the Bay Area in our Palo Alto or Los Gatos offices.