Ear surgery (otoplasty) in Istanbul

What is otoplasty?

Otoplasty, also called pinnaplasty or ear pinning, is surgery to change the shape, position or size of the ears. The most common reason is ears that stick out because a natural fold in the cartilage is missing or the bowl of the ear is too deep.

The operation reshapes the cartilage so the ears sit at a natural angle. It can also correct ears of different shapes or sizes and some ear deformities.

Who is it for?

Otoplasty suits adults and children whose ears have reached near-adult size, usually from around age 6. Many adults choose it after years of feeling self-conscious about their ears.

• Ears that stick out from the head
• Uneven or asymmetric ears
• Folded or misshapen ear tops
• Large or stretched earlobes

How the procedure is done

Adults usually have otoplasty under local anaesthesia, sometimes with sedation. Children usually have general anaesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in the crease behind the ear, so the scar is hidden.

The cartilage is then reshaped with permanent internal stitches to create a natural fold, and in some cases a small piece of cartilage is removed. A padded head bandage is applied at the end.

Metropolmed's own surgical team performs the operation in Istanbul, and a personal coordinator stays with you from your first message to your 12-month follow-up. Your hotel, VIP transfers and a medical interpreter are arranged before you land in Istanbul.

Otoplasty for adults

Many people who come for otoplasty are adults who were never offered surgery as children. Adult cartilage is a little firmer, so the surgeon may combine stitching with gentle scoring or shaping of the cartilage to hold the new fold.

Local anaesthesia is usually enough for adults, and you can return to your hotel a few hours after the procedure. Earlobe reduction or correction of stretched earlobes can be done at the same time.

Recovery and results

You wear a head bandage for 2-3 days, then a soft headband day and night for about 1 week and at night for 4-6 weeks. The ears may feel sore, tender or numb for a few weeks.

Most adults return to work after 5-7 days. Contact sports should be avoided for about 6-8 weeks. The new ear position is visible immediately, and the final result settles at around 3 months.

Keep the area dry until the bandage is removed, and avoid tight hats or pulling clothes over your head for the first weeks. Sleeping on your back helps protect the new shape. You can usually fly home after 4-5 days once the surgeon has checked healing and the head bandage has been removed.

Risks and safety

Risks include infection, bleeding, asymmetry, a stitch becoming visible through the skin, over-correction that makes the ears look too flat, and the ears partly returning towards their old position. Rarely, thick scarring can form behind the ear.

A doctor assesses your ears in person, discusses the shape you want and checks that the technique fits your cartilage.

Recovery timeline

1. Day 1Head bandage, return to hotel.
2. Day 3Bandage removed, headband on.
3. Week 1Stitches checked, back to work or school.
4. Week 4-6Headband worn at night only, then stopped.
5. Month 3Final ear position and shape.

Frequently asked questions