Otoplasty reshapes or repositions your ears to create a more natural, symmetrical look. You might be considering it if your ears protrude, feel out of proportion, or have changed shape after injury or previous surgery.
You might choose it to feel more comfortable in photos, at work, or in social settings. Surgery doesn’t affect hearing, and is suitable for adults and older children (typically from age ten).
Procedure Time
45-60 mins for one ear or 90-120 minutes for both ears
Anaesthetic
Local or general anaesthetic
Recovery
Back to light activity in 1 week; full activity after 2 weeks.
Full Results
3 – 6 months
Otoplasty can reshape or reposition your ears to sit closer to your head, restoring natural contour.
Adjusting projection or shape can help your ears feel more in harmony with your features.
Many people feel more at ease with hairstyles, glasses or headwear after surgery.
Reducing self-consciousness around ear prominence can improve confidence and ease in social situations.
Incisions sit behind your ear, where scars are naturally concealed and settle well over time.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your consultation will be calm and unhurried, with time to discuss your concerns and goals. Your surgeon will examine the shape and projection of your ears, explain the techniques that may help, and outline a realistic, balanced plan.
Afterwards, you’ll receive a detailed clinic letter summarising everything discussed.
To help you prepare safely:
You’ll meet your surgical and anaesthetic team to confirm your plan and consent.
A small incision is made behind each ear. The cartilage is reshaped using permanent sutures, scoring, or a combined technique, depending on your anatomy. Dissolvable stitches close the incision, and a head dressing is applied to support your new ear shape.
Most people go home the same day.
Mild discomfort and swelling are normal in the first week.
Keep your head bandage in place until your follow-up appointment (6 weeks). Once removed, you’ll wear a soft headband at night for 2 – 3 weeks.
Most people return to light activity after 1 week, and normal activities by 2 weeks. You’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise, swimming and contact sports for 6 weeks.
At The Antler Clinic, you’ll be cared for by Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr David Izadi, whose work combines advanced surgical expertise with the calm, honest approach patients value most.
With over two decades of experience in reconstructive, aesthetic, and hand surgery – including dedicated fellowships in cosmetic surgery.
Every plan begins with listening to what matters most to you.
A quick guide to the things most people want to know before and after their procedure.
Most people describe mild discomfort or tightness for a few days after their otoplasty. Pain relief is provided, and swelling usually settles steadily during the first week.
Light activity usually resumes after 1 week after your otoplasty procedure. Most people return to normal daily life within 2 weeks, with swelling continuing to settle over several months.
This is uncommon, but possible if the cartilage is very firm or injured after surgery. Wearing your headband as advised helps protect your result.
Otoplasty can be considered from around age ten, once the ears have finished growing. Adults of all ages may also be suitable. Children (under the age of 18) will need an independent psychological assessment as part of the requirements to verify suitability for surgery.
Otoplasty results are long-lasting. Cartilage reshaping is stable, though small changes can occur as your ears settle during healing.
Otoplasty will not affect your hearing. The procedure changes the external shape of the ear only and does not affect hearing or the ear canal.
Most people avoid glasses resting on the ears until their swelling has settled. Your surgeon will guide you on safe alternatives during early recovery.
Some relaxation is normal after otoplasty as swelling reduces and the cartilage settles. Your final shape becomes clearer over 3–6 months.
Otoplasty is considered safe when performed by a trained surgeon. All procedures carry risks, which your consultation will cover in detail, along with how we minimise them. Your surgeon will send a comprehensive list of complications to you after your consultation.
You’ll need to wear a headband or elasticated support after an otoplasty procedure after 1 week. The soft headband protects your ears at night for a further 4 weeks in adults and during day and night for a further 4 weeks in children, once the initial dressing is removed.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
