Medical Encyclopaedia › Otoplasty (short definition)
In brief: In ear correction (otoplasty), prominent or conspicuously shaped auricles are surgically pinned back and remodelled. Prominent ears are usually congenital and harmless to health, but can be psychologically distressing, especially for children. The procedure is one of the most common in paediatric plastic surgery, but remains an operation with risks.
Causes and when correction may be considered
Usually a cartilage fold of the ear (the so-called antihelical fold) is missing or too weakly developed, or the auricle is enlarged in the concha area. Both cause the ear to stick out further from the head. The auricle is largely fully grown at the age of about five to six; correction is therefore often considered before starting school, but it is possible at any later age. It is important that the wish is shared by the child and does not come from the parents alone. In newborns, moulding with special splints without surgery can be attempted in the first weeks of life while the cartilage is still very soft.
The operation
In children, the procedure is usually performed under general anaesthesia; in adolescents and adults often under local anaesthesia. The incision is on the back of the auricle, so that the scar is later barely visible in the ear crease. Depending on the findings, the missing cartilage fold is shaped with permanent sutures, the cartilage is carefully scored or thinned so that it can be bent, or the auricle is brought closer to the head with sutures. Several techniques are often combined. The operation usually takes about an hour per side.
Healing and behaviour afterwards
After the procedure, a head bandage is applied, which is replaced after a few days by a headband. This is usually worn day and night for a few weeks and then at night for further weeks so that the ears are not folded over during sleep. Pain, swelling and numbness are common at first. Contact sports and swimming should only be resumed after medical clearance. The final result becomes apparent after a few months.
Risks and complications
- Haematoma: increasing, often one-sided pain in the first days can indicate secondary bleeding and must be assessed by a doctor promptly, because a haematoma can damage the cartilage
- wound infection, rarely inflammation of the perichondrium, which must be treated quickly
- asymmetries, unnatural-looking shapes, ears pinned back too far
- renewed protrusion, for example if sutures come loose
- palpable sutures or sutures working through the skin
- thickened or raised scars up to keloids
- sensory disturbances and sensitivity of the ears to cold
Costs and health insurance
Whether German statutory health insurance pays for ear correction is decided case by case. For children and pronounced malformations, an application before surgery is approved more often than for adults, for whom the procedure is usually considered aesthetic and paid for privately. A medical certificate and, if necessary, photos support the application. In the event of complications after purely aesthetic procedures, the insurer can require insured persons to share the costs under Section 52 SGB V.
Important to know
Before deciding, a detailed consultation with a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery or in ear, nose and throat medicine, realistic expectations and time to reflect are important. With children, parents should pay attention to the child’s wishes and distress. After the newborn period, there are hardly any non-surgical alternatives; adhesives or tapes can change the appearance temporarily but cannot correct it permanently.
Related terms in the encyclopaedia
Auricle, Cartilage, Scar, Keloid, Haematoma, Wound healing, General anaesthesia, Local anaesthesia
Sources
- Deutsche Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen (DGPRÄC): Patienteninformationen zur Ohrenkorrektur
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS): Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) – Patient Information
- Sozialgesetzbuch Fünftes Buch (SGB V), § 27 Krankenbehandlung
- Sozialgesetzbuch Fünftes Buch (SGB V), § 52 Leistungsbeschränkung bei Selbstverschulden
Note: This article is for general information and does not replace advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, dentist or pharmacist. Last updated: October 2026.