Otoplasty for Children

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 at Mobley MD, it’s essential to recognize our core principles: exceptional quality, patient safety, and transparent pricing. Dr. Mobley is committed to providing high-quality, individualized surgical experiences that achieve outstanding results.

Otoplasty (cosmetic ear surgery) is one of Dr. Mobley’s areas of national expertise. He has extensively published and lectured on this procedure, positioning him as one of the leading otoplasty surgeons in America. Dr. Mobley performs approximately 20 otoplasties annually, significantly surpassing the average aesthetic plastic surgeon and demonstrating unmatched experience in Utah and the Intermountain West.

The starting cost for otoplasty procedures at MobleyMD is approximately $7,000-$8,000. The exact fee depends on factors such as the surgical complexity and specific requirements for each ear. After your detailed consultation with Dr. Mobley, you will receive a clear and comprehensive quote tailored to your individualized treatment plan. Please note that facility and anesthesia fees are time-based and may vary depending on the actual duration of your procedure.

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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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.

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.