Prominent ears, misshapen ears, or ears that didn’t develop normally are concerns that many people, children and adults, live with for years without realising they can be corrected. Ear correction surgery also known as otoplasty is a procedure to correct the deformities of the ear such as birth defects, protruding ears, cup ears, shelled ears, malformed ears, ears with excessive cartilage, ear defects due to trauma, surgery or cancer.
1 to 3 hours
General (children), Local with sedation (adults)
Day care for minor, overnight for major
Long-lasting
The surgery corrects several distinct concerns: ears that protrude noticeably from the head, ears that are larger than facial proportion, ears with poorly defined folds or contours, ears damaged by injury or surgery, and ears affected by birth conditions such as microtia (partial or absent ear development).
The technique chosen depends on the specific concern. In most cases, an incision is made behind the ear, where it remains hidden in the natural skin fold. The cartilage is reshaped, repositioned, and secured with non-absorbable sutures to hold the new shape permanently. For severe deformities such as microtia, rib cartilage may be used to build a new ear framework in stages.
When performed by a plastic surgeon trained in fine cartilage technique, the result is an ear that looks naturally shaped, sits in proportion to the face, and shows no visible scarring at conversational distance.
Most children become aware of prominent ears between ages 5 and 8, often through comments at school. By age 8 to 10, the ear has reached nearly full adult size, which makes this the medically recommended window for otoplasty in children.
For parents, the question is rarely whether to correct it. It is whether to do it now or wait. Most plastic surgeons recommend correction before secondary school begins, so the child grows up without the cosmetic concern shaping how they see themselves.
The surgery on children is performed under general anaesthesia for comfort and stillness. The incision sits behind the ear, hidden in the natural skin fold. Most children return to school within one to two weeks. The result is a permanent, natural-looking ear that they will never have to think about again.
Dr. Vasu has performed ear correction surgery on children for over three decades. The consultation includes you, your child, and a clear explanation of the procedure, the recovery, and what to expect at every stage.
Many adults arrive for ear correction surgery having lived with prominent or misshapen ears since childhood. Some hide it under longer hair. Some avoid certain hairstyles entirely. Others have simply learned to ignore something that has quietly bothered them for decades.
Otoplasty in adults is a straightforward decision because the ear cartilage is fully developed and stable. The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation, takes one to two hours, and most adults return to work within a week.
The results are immediate and permanent. The recovery is shorter than most adults expect. And the relief of finally addressing something carried for years is, in most patients’ words, surprisingly significant.
Whether the concern is mild prominence, asymmetry, or an old injury that healed poorly, an honest consultation with Dr. Vasu will tell you what is possible and how straightforward the path is.
Dr. Vasu examines the ear, photographs the current shape, marks the planned correction, and confirms the technique. For children, this includes a calm conversation with the child as well as the parents.
Children receive general anaesthesia for comfort. Adults usually receive local anaesthesia with light sedation, awake and comfortable. Either way, you feel nothing during the procedure.
An incision is made behind the ear, hidden in the natural fold. The cartilage is reshaped, repositioned, and secured with fine non-absorbable sutures. A specialised headband dressing is applied to protect the new shape during early healing.
Day care return home for minor corrections in adults. Overnight observation for children and for larger reshaping procedures. Discharge with a clear written recovery plan.
The protective headband stays on day and night. Mild soreness, easily managed with prescribed pain relief. No external stitches to worry about.
Headband is replaced with a lighter dressing or, in some cases, removed entirely. Dr. Vasu reviews the healing, removes any non-dissolvable sutures behind the ear, and confirms the next steps.
Adults return to work, children return to school. Activities like reading, screen time, and gentle walks are fine. Contact sports and rough play are still off-limits.
Most patients resume gym work, swimming, and normal exercise. The ear feels and looks natural at this stage, though deep healing continues internally.
The new ear shape has fully settled. Any residual swelling has gone. The scar behind the ear has faded to a thin pencil line that is barely visible. The result is stable for life.
Otoplasty looks simple from the outside. The technique is precise. Cartilage is unforgiving, it remembers every cut, every suture, every angle. The difference between a result that looks naturally shaped and one that looks operated on comes down to the surgeon’s hands and the depth of their plastic surgery training.
Performed in a fully accredited tertiary care hospital with full anaesthesia support, sterile theatres, and advanced monitoring. The safety infrastructure that surgery of this length and depth calls for.
Performed personally by Dr. Vasu, with plastic surgery technique applied to every lift, deep-layer repositioning, hidden incisions, and the conservative judgement that produces a natural result, refined over 30 years.
Dr. Rajesh Vasu has 30+ years of clinical experience and 5,000+ procedures performed. He is a member of ISAPS, internationally trained in aesthetic surgery at one of Europe’s most respected institutes.
Real patients. Real repairs. All photographs published with written consent.
Patient 1 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 2 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 3 · Female, 34 3 months post
Individual results vary. Photographs are representative, not guaranteed outcomes. Consultation required to assess suitability.
For anyone unhappy with the shape or size of their ears, ear reshaping surgery may provide an effective solution, offering physical benefits and improving your confidence levels.
Most plastic surgeons recommend ear correction between ages 5 and 10. The ear reaches nearly full adult size by age 5 to 6, which means the result lasts a lifetime. Doing it before secondary school begins also means the child grows up without the cosmetic concern shaping how they see themselves.
Yes. Otoplasty in adults is straightforward because the ear cartilage is fully developed and stable. Many of Dr. Vasu’s otoplasty patients are adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who have lived with the concern since childhood and finally chose to address it.
No. The incision is placed behind the ear, in the natural skin fold. After healing, the scar is a thin pencil line that is essentially invisible at conversational distance.
The procedure itself is painless because of anaesthesia. The first 24 to 48 hours afterwards involve mild soreness, easily managed with prescribed painkillers. Most patients describe it as a dull ache rather than sharp pain.
Adults typically return to work within one week. Children typically return to school within one to two weeks. Full healing and final result take around 3 months. The ear looks natural well before that.
Yes. The ear cartilage holds its new shape permanently once healed. With normal care and no major trauma to the ear, the result lasts a lifetime.
As with any surgery, there are small risks of bleeding, infection, or asymmetry. Rarely, the cartilage may not hold its new position perfectly and requires a small revision. All risks are discussed during consultation and managed with strict surgical protocol.
Yes. In almost all cases, both ears are corrected in the same procedure to maintain symmetry, even when only one ear appears prominent. Correcting only one ear often makes the asymmetry worse.
Microtia and complex deformities are corrected in stages, often using rib cartilage to build the missing ear framework. Dr. Vasu has handled these cases for 30+ years and discusses the full surgical plan, timeline, and expected outcome during consultation.
Cost depends on the complexity of the correction, whether one or both ears are involved, and whether the procedure is performed under general or local anaesthesia. Pricing is discussed transparently during your consultation, with a written treatment plan provided before any procedure is scheduled.
A 15 to 20 minute consultation with Dr. Vasu is the simplest way to know. He examines the ear, discusses the realistic outcome, and gives you a clear plan with no obligation to proceed.
Whether it’s for your child before they start secondary school, or for yourself after years of quietly carrying the concern, ear correction surgery is one of the most rewarding procedures Dr. Vasu performs. A 15 to 20 minute consultation, in person at Apollo Hospitals or virtual, is the simplest first step. No pressure to proceed. Just honest, expert advice.