Ear shaping and ear pinning, also known as otoplasty, is designed to treat promininet or misshapen ears. The goals of the surgery are to set prominent ears back closer to the head and/or to reduce the size of large ears. Ear size and shape can be adjusted to fit the patient’s facial dimensions as well as match the opposite ear if the condition is only one sided.

For the most part, the operation is done on children between the ages of four and 14. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the surgery, the less teasing and ridicule the child will have to endure. Ear surgery on adults is also possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an older patient.