Otoplasty - Surgery for protruding ears

The strong points

We perform the surgery of protruding ears in ambulatory surgery: entry in the morning and exit in the evening.
Surgery for protruding ears is covered by health insurance in cases of major psychological discomfort.
Our fees for ear surgery range from 200 to 3500 euros, depending on the difficulty of the case.

Description of the surgery for protruding ears

There are two anatomical changes responsible for protruding ears:

hypertrophy of the cartilage in the center of the ear or excess concha
absence of folds in the cartilage of the outer edge of the ear or lack of folds in the anthelix

The surgical procedure aims to correct these deformities by modifying the cartilage structure of the ear.
The incision is located behind the ear. In the case of an excess of concha, we remove a portion of the cartilage and then bury the remaining cartilage in depth with stitches. If the anthelix is not folded properly, stitches are used to recreate the missing fold.

Surgery for protruding ears in practice

The procedure is usually performed under neuroleptanalgesia (local anesthesia enhanced by intravenous sedatives), but sometimes under general anesthesia. This requires a pre-anaesthetic consultation at least 48 hours before the procedure. In most cases, the operation is performed on an outpatient basis. You can return home accompanied 3 hours after the operation.

The after-effects are simple but marked by a swelling of the ears during the first 5 days.

As the ears are very fragile tissues, sensitive to infection, they must be cared for daily by a nurse for a minimum of 10 days.

Wearing a protective headband is recommended for the month following the surgery. Contact sports and ball games are not recommended for 3 months after surgery.

The specifics of our protruding ear surgeries

We perform over 90% of our ear surgery on an outpatient basis, thanks to the use of local anesthesia, even in children.
We use a simple, rapid technique based mainly on the use of non-absorbable sutures to shape the ear. In this way, we avoid any technique aimed at destroying the cartilage responsible for hematoma and skin necrosis.

Questions / Answers

Is the surgery for protruding ears covered by social security?

Yes, if your protruding ears are responsible for major psychological discomfort.

At what age can we perform a surgery for protruding ears?

The operation can be considered when the child's ear reaches adult size, i.e. around age 8. However, it is important to wait until the child expresses discomfort, and never force the child to undergo surgery.

What are the possible complications of a protruding ear surgery?

Surgery for protruding ears is a delicate surgery in its realization and its aftermath.

Infection, although very rare, is dreaded because it is very difficult to treat. The operation can only be carried out in the operating room under impeccably hygienic conditions. We systematically prescribe daily nursing care for a minimum of 10 days.
A hematoma (blood clot) can occur in the 48 hours following surgery, and may require emergency drainage.
Problems with pinna sensitivity are common in the 6 months following surgery. This makes it necessary to protect the ears in cold weather.
Hypertrophic or keloid scars may occur in predisposed patients.
The stitches holding the cartilage in place may come out through the skin within 2 years of the procedure, requiring touch-up.

How much does a protruding ear surgery cost?

In case of coverage by the health insurance, our fees vary from 1500 to 2000 € depending on the difficulty of the case. They may be covered by your complementary health insurance. In the case of aesthetic procedures, you will be responsible for the entire cost of the hospitalization and the VAT.

Thus, the overall estimate varies from 3500 to 4000 € depending on the difficulty of your case.

To know more about our rates