Otoplasty in adults: what it corrects and what it does not change

Adult otoplasty is surgery that brings protruding ears closer to the skull or reshapes a cartilage fold when that contour causes concern. It is not a hearing operation, nor a way to make two ears identical when they never were. At Mallorca Medical Group, Dr. José Ignacio García Ceballos, MD, FCCP, MRCS I England, a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, assesses each case in consultation before recommending or advising against the procedure.

In Spain, the query “otoplasty” maintains a stable search volume (around 4,400 per month according to Keyword Planner data, Spain market, 2026 reading). Interest does not equate to an indication. The decision is made on examination, not in a search engine.

Which anatomical issue can be corrected

Protruding ears, sometimes called “bat ears”, are usually due to a combination of two features: an underdeveloped antihelical fold and an overly deep concha. Otoplasty acts on the auricular cartilage, not on the ear canal. The ear surgery described by SECPRE places the usual incision behind the auricle, so the scar is hidden in the postauricular sulcus.

In adults, the cartilage has already finished growing. This makes it possible to plan the correction without waiting for a change in size, unlike in childhood, where the minimum age is discussed case by case. The technique is adapted to what is seen in consultation: sutures to recreate the fold, conchal reduction if the projection comes from there, or both. There is no single manoeuvre that is valid for all auricles.

What otoplasty does not change

It is worth stating this clearly, because it is what is most often misunderstood at the first visit:

• It does not improve hearing. If there is wax blockage, recurrent otitis, or hearing loss, that is assessed separately, with ENT if appropriate.
• It does not turn two ears into exact copies. Mild asymmetry may persist and, in many cases, is preferable to overcorrection.
• It does not reliably reduce a very large earlobe or repair a torn piercing unless that step is specifically planned.
• It does not erase a previous scar or cartilage that has already been operated on. Secondary otoplasty requires a different conversation, with more modest expectations.
• It is not indicated solely because a front-facing photo “does not look good”. The indication is based on measured projection and what the patient wants to change, not on a filter.

The Mallorca Medical Group otoplasty page summarises the framework of the procedure. This text does not replace that assessment or promise a specific result.

How planning is done in adults

In consultation, we review the projection of each ear, cartilage quality, conchal depth, the antihelical fold, old scars, allergies to dressings, and work schedule. Many adults can be operated on under local anaesthesia, with or without sedation. General anaesthesia is not the norm, but it is not ruled out if the case or the patient’s preference supports it. The usual duration is around one hour; it may be longer if the two ears need to be corrected differently.

Dr. García Ceballos brings 25 years of clinical practice and training in plastic surgery at hospitals of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, in addition to MRCS I England accreditation. That track record does not guarantee an outcome: it helps decide when not to operate. If the cartilage is very rigid, if the expectation is millimetre-perfect symmetry, or if the real issue is something else (hearing, a torn piercing, a keloid scar), the recommendation may be not to proceed or to defer.

Recovery, without a miracle timeline

After surgery, a dressing is applied to protect the cartilage for the first few days. Afterwards, a soft elastic headband is usually sufficient, especially at night, for several weeks. The exact timeline is set at follow-up, not in an article. What is consistent is this: avoid knocks, contact sports, and sleeping on the operated ear until the surgeon authorises it.

Swelling, a purplish tone, and some stiffness are common in the first few weeks and are not, by themselves, an indication that the correction has failed. Numbness of the auricle may take months to settle. Uncommon complications—haematoma, cartilage infection, suture extrusion—are explained in consultation and in the AECEP otoplasty information. Increasing pain, a soaked dressing, or fever are not expected at home: they should be checked.

Office work is usually resumed sooner than exercise. The postauricular scar should be protected from the sun while it is pink. The positional result is noticeable early; the final appearance of the cartilage and skin takes longer and varies from person to person.

When it makes sense to book an appointment—and when it does not

An assessment makes sense if protruding ears cause day-to-day discomfort, if a missing fold is noticeable in profile, or if previous surgery has left a projection the patient wants to review with realistic criteria. It does not make sense to seek otoplasty to “stop hearing worse”, to match one auricle to the other to the millimetre, or to avoid a conversation about what surgery cannot do.

A consultation at Mallorca Medical Group is a medical visit, with examination and a plan. It is not free and does not imply that surgery is indicated. Anyone who wants personalised guidance can book their assessment at mallorcamedicalgroup.com. The clinical goal is a contour closer to the skull, stable and proportionate to the rest of the face—not a catalogue ear.