Over 40 years of expert care

Best UK Group & 5 star reviews

Established Clinics

Award winning treatment plans

Over 40 years of expert care

Best UK Group & 5 star reviews

Nationwide Clinics

Award winning treatment plans

Medically reviewed by Mr Mark Lloyd, BM, MRCS (Eng), MSc, IM&T(Health), M.Phil, FRCS(Plast), ECFMG. GMC Number , Consultant Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon for The Private Clinic of Harley Street, London.
Last Reviewed July 5th 2024

Ear Reshaping Treatment

Ear Reshaping treatment is a great solution for large or ears that sit far away from the head and can be uncomfortable, as well as affecting confidence and .

Ear correction surgery is also known as an or a Pinnaplasty. This is a surgical procedure to reshape and reconstruct the ear. If you are unhappy with the shape, size or position of your ears, you may benefit from a Otoplasty procedure.

In most cases, ear reshaping treatment is performed to:

Otoplasty surgery is a very safe surgical procedure that can help to improve the appearance of the ears as well as other such as an increase in self-esteem and confidence.

Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Mr Mark Lloyd specialises in ear surgery having performed 1000 ear procedures with us.

Our team of highly knowledgeable surgeons are experienced in a range of techniques when it comes to ear reshaping treatment.

We have ear surgery consultation located in , , and .

The best option is to come in and see our Consultant Plastic surgeons who specialise in Otoplasty and ear procedures. They will be able to discuss what you want to achieve and show you before and after photos. It is a simple procedure that really can transform the look of your face.

Ear Pinning surgery involves ???pinning back’ prominent ears that protrude from the head too much.

The cause of protruding ears is often down to excessive in the concha and/or an underdeveloped fold.

During the treatment your surgeon will make an incision along the crease-line behind your ear and remove any excess cartilage that is causing it to protrude. The ear cartilage is then reshaped to encourage the ear to sit in a new position, closer to the head.

Following the surgery, the area will be up and a dressing wrapped around your head to support the cartilage in its new place.

The result of a Pinnaplasty procedure is naturally or resized ears that lie closer to your head. This procedure can be performed on one, or both ears to help reduce asymmetry.

If you are about the size of your ears, then an ear reduction procedure can be performed to help bring oversized ears more in proportion to the rest of the face.

Macrotia is the medical term for ears that are oversized and is defined by ears that are measured to be larger than two standard deviations above the average size for an ear. Macrotia is often to genetic health conditions such as Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome.

Large ears are not always macrotia and are often inherited from family genes.

Ear reduction or macrotia surgery involves making incisions into the back or folds of the ear and removing excess cartilage and skin from the upper, lower, or whole ear to allow the surgeon to reduce the height and/or width of the ear. Stitches are then used to close the incisions.

Ear Reduction takes around 2 hours on average. Following your ears will have dressing applied to the area to and support the ears.

Ear pinning surgery can also be combined with ear reduction surgery however this may need to be performed in two separate procedures depending on the nature of the ear reduction surgery. This is best with your surgeon.

Ear correction surgery is when surgery is on the ear to correct a deformity that may have occurred due to injury or has been present since birth.

Ear injuries are very common and in most cases are a result of biting or lacerations which may have required emergency surgery and resulted in poor results. Ear correction surgery can help patients improve the appearance of their ears and restore .

Another form of ear injury is known as cauliflower ear which is often associated with rugby . Cauliflower ear is medically known as an hematoma and is caused when there has been trauma to the ear causing a blood clot to form and separate the skin of the ear from the cartilage inside. When left untreated, it can lead to a permanent deformity of the ear. Cauliflower ear is common amongst rugby players and boxers as their ears are subjected to friction and trauma on a regular basis which overtime results in the formation of a cauliflower ear.

Ear correction surgery can be performed on ears and usually involves lifting the skin from the ear to reshape the thick tissue back into the shape of the ear.

is a simple day case procedure performed under local anaesthetic. It is ideal for anyone looking to reduce the size of their earlobes. Some people can feel extremely unhappy or uncomfortable with the appearance of their earlobes

We also offer earlobe repair for those that have had their earlobes torn, stretched or split from previous piercings or trauma.

Please see our or for more information about these treatments.

Ear Reshaping at a glance

Procedure Time

2 – 3 hours

Anaesthetic Type

Local or general

Hospital Stay

Day case

Washing

7 – 10 days

Driving

1 week

Up & Mobile

1 day

Sexual Activity

4 weeks

Back to Work

1 week

Exercise

6 weeks

Travel

4 – 6 weeks

Full Recovery Time

6 weeks

Final Results

3 months

Support Garments

Head bandage for 1 week / supporting garment

Sleeping

Elevated on back for 2-4 weeks

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Ear Reshaping Treatment Before & After Photos.

Our excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction, honest advice and outstanding care means your journey with The Private Clinic will be an exciting experience. Take a look at some of our Ear Reshaping Treatment results below.

What to Expect

The Private Clinic has been treating patients for over 40 years with thousands of women placing their trust in us each year. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a personalised service. We have a team of friendly nurses and expert breast surgeons who understand the importance of this decision and will support you throughout your journey with us.

The first stage of your ear reshaping treatment journey will be a consultation with one of our expert surgeons.
At your consultation, your surgeon will go the otoplasty in detail and examine the area.

Your surgeon will then discuss:

Following your consultation, you will be introduced to your patient coordinator who will be your point of contact should you wish to proceed with otoplasty surgery.

In the interests of patient safety all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your consultation your medical history will be reviewed and the pre-operative nurse will choose which pre-operative tests to carry out which are going to be most appropriate to you. Most pre-operative include a blood test, MRSA swabs, urine test and a blood pressure test.

Otoplasty (an ear reshaping treatment) procedures usually take up to around 2 hours and can be performed under local or general anaesthetic, depending on the individual case. As specialists in minimally procedures, we endeavour to carry out Otoplasty under local anaesthetic as often as possible, but will only with the method that’s right for your needs.

During the treatment, your surgeon will make an incision along the crease-line behind your ear and remove any excess cartilage that is causing it to protrude. The ear is then pinned back along the fold to its new position, closer to the head.

Following the surgery, the area will be stitched up and a dressing wrapped around your head to support the cartilage in its new place.

The result of an otoplasty procedure is naturally reshaped or resized ears that lie closer to your head.

We recommend that you take approximately one week off work. You may be allowed to return home immediately after the procedure, but this will depend on your case and some patients may be required to stay in hospital overnight to ensure your safety and recovery.

Regardless of whether you’ve received a local or General Health & Wellbeing anaesthetic, you will need to arrange for someone to take you home and you may be asked to have to stay with you for the first-day post-procedure. Your surgeon and medical team will advise you on how to best aid your recovery.

You will need to wear a full turban head-bandage for 5-7 days to help the wound. Sutures used are normally dissolvable.

Your ears will be bruised, swollen and red for a few weeks – it can take up to 6 weeks for a full recovery. Any discomfort is normally well controlled with painkillers.

A headband, or head-bandage, will be needed at night for a further 2 weeks to stop the ear rubbing on the pillow at night.

Normal hair washing can be resumed once the bandages are removed.

The Private Clinic have collaborated with Chrysalis Finance to offer 0% finance for our patients.*

*Acceptance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

An Otoplasty procedure typically takes about two to three hours to . Depending on the case and the desired results, the treatment can be under local or general anaesthetic.

An otoplasty or pinnaplasty can be performed under a local anaesthetic in most circumstances however this is decided on an individual case basis and you will be told at your consultation what to expect on the day of your procedure.

An otoplasty procedure is performed under local or general anaesthetic to ensure that you are comfortable and feel no pain. You may experience some mild discomfort after surgery which can be managed with painkillers and will subside after a few days.

Generally, a child will have ear correction surgery before the age of 5 and this is decided by the parents. When the child is between 5 and 13 they are not too worried about their appearance but then after age 13, there seems to be popularity again for those favouring the surgery. We are always able to operate again on the same area if you feel you need to have the procedure again, but always make sure you talk to your surgeon about your realistic expectations.

To find out about your suitability for ear correction surgery, to see one of our expert plastic surgeons.

Our advice on what to consider when deciding to have a  (Ear Surgery) procedure:

1. When choosing a clinic, you should always do your research, and only go to an established, reputable clinic. The Clinic has been in the cosmetic surgery industry for over 40 years. We are here to answer all of your questions and give you peace of mind.

2. When choosing a surgeon, make sure you know who you’ll be seeing. Their expertise, qualifications and patient satisfaction rate are important factors to take into consideration.

At The Private Clinic, we only source the most experienced and specialised surgeons. Find out more about our plastic surgeons here.

3. Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing where to have your treatment. Safety should be your number one priority and confident that they will look after you – not only before, but also after your procedure

4. When it sounds too good to be true, it often is. Always find out what your clinic’s reputation is.

Our excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction, honest advice and outstanding care means your journey with The Clinic will be an exciting experience to a newfound shape.

Why Choose The Private Clinic

Meet our Surgeons

We have a dedicated Plastic Surgeon and medical team who will be with you throughout your journey. At The Private Clinic Otoplasty (Ear Correction Surgery) is performed by some of the UK’s top consultant plastic who have decades of experience.

Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Hair Transplant & Vaser Lipo Total Definer Surgeon

Consultant Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive, Cosmetic Surgeon

Consultant Plastic, & Aesthetic Surgeon

Ready to begin your journey?

Come and see our expert surgeons to discuss the best options available for you. Book a consultation and take that first step.

Talk to an expert 

The Private Clinic Group includes:

About The Private Clinic

The Private Clinic is a multi award group with clinics located across the UK. We have over 40 years’ experience in offering the best in advanced minimally invasive non surgical treatments and expert led surgical procedures in our clinics and hospitals. Our surgeons are all registered with the and we are regulated by the . The CQC is an independent regulator for health and social care in England. Last review March 10th 2023.

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Company reg: The Private Clinic is a trading name of TPC Group Limited (company registration number ) © 2026 The Private Clinic.

TPC Group Limited trading as The Private Clinic Harley Street London, which is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited. TPC Group Limited is a credit broker, not a lender. Chrysalis Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and lending.