Otoplasty for Adults

An incision is made behind the ear in the natural crease where the ear and head join. The skin is loosened from the cartilage of the ear. The cartilage is often reshaped with stitches to give a more natural look to the ear. I tend to avoid placing cuts in the ear cartilage, as I think this results in an unnatural shape. In fact, I have published an instructional article on my otoplasty techniques in a national surgical journal. This article can be made available to patients, although it is intended for a medical audience.

To fully understand the costs of cosmetic surgery, you must understand the guiding principles of Dr. Mobley’s medical practice: quality, safety, and respect for costs. Dr. Mobley has not designed the surgical experience to be the lowest bid; rather, he wants you to have an exceptionally high-quality medical experience. If this interests you, please read on.

Dr. Mobley has written and lectured extensively and nationally on the topic of otoplasty. He is considered by many to be one of the American authorities of the procedure. When you choose Dr. Mobley you are choosing one of the most experienced otoplasty surgeons in America.

Dr. Mobley performs, on average, 12-14 times more otoplasties than the average aesthetic plastic surgeon. Dr. Mobley performs approximately 20 otoplasties per year. That level experience is virtually unmatched in Utah or the Intermountain West.

The fees for an adult otoplasty begin at $7,500. The setting in which it is performed and the amount of surgery needed on each ear can both affect the final cost. After your consultation, you will leave the office with an easy to understand quote for your individualized surgical plan. Keep in mind that the facility and anesthesia fees are time-based and so may change based on the actual length of your cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Mobley wants to make cosmetic surgery available to as many people as possible. For that reason we have  partnered with CareCredit to provide lending services. When you come in for your consultation we will be more than happy to go over all your financial options with you.

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During the first week there will be some swelling and possibly some bruising in the upper forehead or upper eyelid region (click link for example image). Approximately one week after surgery, you’ll return to have any stitches removed. Most patients are completely ready to go back out in public 10-14 days after the operation.

For the first 1-3 days following your ear-pinning you will have a compressive wrap over your head and ears. This is then removed and an elastic compressive strap is gently warn over the top half of the ears for the first week following surgery. After one week, I encourage my patients to purchase a sports headband and to wear this around the ears at night and while sleeping for six weeks following surgery. Younger children and active adults are advised to avoid “horse-play” or sports that might lead to trauma to the ears for a few months following surgery.

If absolutely necessary, you could return to work three to four days after the operation. Because of the protective ear dressing placed during surgery, most patients arrange to have one week off from work or school.

Most often, no. Otoplasty is a cosmetic operation and in the current era of healthcare, we have not found insurance companies working to cover this surgery. Otoplasty is a cosmetic operation and as such treated as a self-pay procedure. In cases of extremely malformed ears- see the lop ear section in the before and after gallery; some insurance companies may consider this medically necessary but in our experience this is a rare situation.

Every type of surgery has risks. It’s my ethical responsibility to educate you on these risks so you can make the best possible decision for yourself while weighing these risks against the benefits of surgery. My training helps me to minimize these risks to the best of my ability, but I cannot eliminate them entirely. Common risks include infection of stitches. Corrected ears may relax over the first month or two following surgery, so I often over-correct them slightly during surgery. The risks above are the most common ones that I think you should be aware of, but they are not a complete list of all possible risks. When I see you in consultation and we begin to formulate your surgical treatment plan, I’ll review with you not only these common risks but also the less likely complications that may occur.