Ear Surgery in San Francisco, CA

Ear surgery can redefine the size, position, and shape of the ears to create a normal or rejuvenated appearance at L Plastic Surgery. Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Charles K. Lee, accepts patients for cosmetic ear pinning starting at age five. If there is a trauma to the outside of the ear or earlobe, he will also meet with you for a consultation at any age. Our practice, L Plastic Surgery, offers both types of ear surgeries: aesthetic improvements or procedures to stitch an ear (or two) back to health. No need for your child to feel the social angst that can come from prominent ears. Once the ears are grown, otoplasty can be very beneficial not only to his or her looks but to limit the teasing protruding or big ears may cause at that age. Make an appointment for yourself or your young one at our San Francisco, CA office for cosmetic ear surgery.

Don't distress about the appearance of your ears. We offer ear surgery services for patients in need of aesthetic improvements or need to be stitched back to health.

We offer ear pinning surgeries for patients of all ages, however, most are between the ages of 5 – 7 years old. Called otoplasty, Dr. Lee performs ear pinning by repositioning the skin and cartilage of the ears with fine sutures.

The popularity of ear gauges and big earrings are making earlobe reconstruction a popular surgery at L Plastic Surgery because they can disfigure your earlobes. When an earlobe is torn, split, or ripped the only remedy is an earlobe repair by a qualified surgeon. Dr. Lee has experience in repairing or reconstructing damaged earlobes.

Your cosmetic ear surgery will be customized to you or your child's needs. Dr. Lee may recommend using general, local, or intravenous sedation for the procedure.

Ear pinning
Patients that are having their ears positioned closer to the head will require incisions made behind the ears or within the inner folds of the ear. Dr. Lee may need to remove or add some cartilage to make this surgery look more natural. Generally, ear pinning is performed on both ears, but it may be that one ear is higher than the other or protrudes differently than the other ear. Either way, Dr. Lee can make both ears look more symmetrical and balanced. Once the cosmetic surgery is complete, the incisions will be closed with sutures. Recovery will take place at home. Our medical team will educate you on how to clean the surgical sites to prevent infection and excessive scarring.

Earlobe repair
Dr. Lee can perform an earlobe repair for you with a local anesthetic. Each lobe can take up to 35 – 45 minutes to suture closed. He usually puts in the type of sutures that you have to return to our office in 2 - 3 weeks to have removed. You will be able to return to work the same day if needed. We will give you instructions on how to care for your repaired earlobe to minimize scarring.

When the ear procedure is over, you will recover at home. Dr. Lee or a member of his team will send you home with recovery instructions. It's very important to not pick at or touch the ears. In addition, you or your child should not lay on the ears, and instead, sleep upright for the first few days. Dr. Lee recommends seeing patients back within the first week. During this appointment time, Dr. Lee will be able to check you or your child's surgical results. The outcomes can be seen right away, and the results will continue to look better as the ears heal.

Will the results of ear surgery last?
The ears typically grow faster compared to other parts of the face and body, which is why an otoplasty can be performed on younger patients with long-lasting results. Dr. Lee will assess the ears and then discuss realistic expectations and how long the results should last. Even as the body and face can change due to age and gravity, the impact on the ears is usually minimal. In the event there are dramatic modifications to your ears due to an injury, additional surgeries may be required.

How old should my child be to consider otoplasty?
On average, children about 5 – 6 years old are perfect candidates for ear surgery. Although the ear is usually fully grown, the cartilage and tissue will still be soft, making it easy to change. This age is also good since it's before they start school or early in their education, so that they can avoid teasing from their classmates. Although many otoplasty patients are young children, Dr. Lee also performs ear surgery on adults.

Do I need to have both ears done or just one?
The most common problems, including ears that are too large or stick out, occur in both ears, which means both will need to be addressed. During the surgery, Dr. Lee will shape both ears so they are as equal as possible. However, if just one ear needs to be altered, the size and shape will be altered to match the other ear. When he creates your treatment plan, Dr. Lee will let you know if one or both ears need to be addressed.

While the ears are small, an abnormal position, shape, or size may make a significant difference in your appearance. Ear surgery (otoplasty) may help your child avoid teasing by classmates, or help you if you have always felt unhappy with your ears. It is also how we can repair split or severely stretched out earlobes. Please reach out to us at Contact L Plastic Surgery in San Francisco, CA to schedule a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Lee, and learn more about cosmetic ear reshaping or repair surgery. Our team looks forward to helping you achieve a look you can love and the confidence to show it off.