“Prominent ears can affect confidence in ways that are difficult to articulate until they are corrected. Children and adults alike describe the same experience after otoplasty — a quiet sense of freedom. Wearing hair up. Going swimming without self-consciousness. Looking in the mirror without immediately cataloguing the one thing that felt out of proportion. Otoplasty is technically demanding and the aesthetic standard is high — but when done well, the result is completely natural and permanently life-improving.”
What otoplasty can do for you
Otoplasty repositions prominent or protruding ears closer to the head with incisions hidden entirely behind the ear. Patients describe an immediate psychological transformation — no more hair arrangement strategies, no more self-consciousness in photographs.
- Ears that read as balanced — prominent ears quietly brought back into natural proportion with the head.
- Hidden scar behind the ear — nothing visible from the front or the side; the repair is completely concealed.
- Works for children and adults — appropriate from age five onward — life-changing at any stage.
- Permanent, no maintenance — the cartilage is reshaped permanently; the result does not relax over time.
- Newfound confidence in any hairstyle, in any setting — the moment patients describe most is forgetting their ears were ever something they thought about.
Ready to discuss your ear surgery goals?
Understanding the otoplasty
What the otoplasty is
Otoplasty repositions prominent or protruding ears closer to the head with incisions hidden entirely behind the ear. Patients consistently describe an immediate psychological transformation — the kind of change that makes every photograph feel like theirs again.
Who the otoplasty is for
If any of the following describes you, the otoplasty may be worth exploring:
What makes Dr. Truesdale’s approach different
Dr. Truesdale’s approach to every procedure reflects a consistent set of principles — the same standards that inform every consultation, every surgical plan, and every post-operative follow-up.
Restraint, Not Over-Correction
The most over-done procedures in facial aesthetics are over-done because someone kept going past the right stopping point. Dr. Truesdale's rule: when the result is right, stop — even if more could technically be done. For otoplasty, that means restoring natural ear position — not over-pinning or over-flattening.
The Artist's Eye
Before becoming a surgeon, Dr. Truesdale was a trained portrait artist. That lens shapes every decision — proportion, light, shadow, the relationship between every feature — in a way purely clinical training alone does not. For the ear, that lens calibrates symmetry, projection, and the natural cartilage curves so each ear reads as one of a balanced pair.
Personal, Start to Finish
Every consultation, every surgical plan, every procedure — performed personally by Dr. Truesdale. No delegation to coordinators, PAs, or residents. Dr. Truesdale is personally involved every step of the way. Every otoplasty cartilage suture is placed by Dr. Truesdale. The result depends on hand-tied suture position.
Natural Is Non-Negotiable
The only acceptable outcome is one that no one can identify as a procedure — a result that reads as a better version of you. No pulled look, no frozen expression, no obvious work. The otoplasty goal: ears that simply read as belonging on the head — not as “pinned back.”
“Otoplasty is one of the most life-altering small operations in facial plastic surgery.”
— Dr. Carl Truesdale, MD
Otoplasty before & afters
Real otoplasty patients of Dr. Truesdale — children and adults. Every ear is reshaped to sit in natural proportion to the face.
Your transformation starts with a conversation.
From first consultation to final reveal
We always tell our patients to ‘trust the process.’ You are in good hands on every step of the journey to your unique masterpiece.
Consultation
Personal session with Dr. Truesdale — facial analysis, honest assessment of candidacy, and a clear plan for what the procedure can and cannot achieve.
Planning
Medical clearance, pre-operative instructions, and a personalized plan Dr. Truesdale reviews with you before the day of the procedure.
Procedure Day
Performed personally by Dr. Truesdale through hidden incisions behind the ears. Local anesthesia for adults; general anesthesia for younger children.
Headband & Sutures
Soft headband worn 24/7 for the first 1–2 weeks, then nights only for an additional 2–4 weeks. Non-dissolvable sutures removed at Day 7; dissolvable sutures need no removal. Clean incisions with a Q-tip, gentle soap, and water; apply Aquaphor multiple times daily. Do not pull the ear forward; avoid tight hairstyles and ponytails.
Ears Settle
Most swelling resolved. Ears settling into their new, naturally positioned shape.
Look and Feel Like a Masterpiece
Ears sit in their natural, balanced position with a discreet post-auricular scar.
Individual timelines vary. Dr. Truesdale sets realistic, patient-specific expectations during your consultation — not exaggerated claims.
See if Ear Surgery is right for you.
Meet Dr. Truesdale
Otoplasty FAQs
Bring your own questions to consultation — Dr. Truesdale personally answers every one. Below are the questions patients ask most often about otoplasty.
The strongest candidates have prominent or protruding ears, asymmetric ear projection, or absent antihelical fold. Dr. Truesdale evaluates you personally in consultation and only recommends the procedure when it will genuinely help. If a different approach would serve you better, he’ll tell you that too.
Otoplasty is typically performed from age 5 onward, once the ear cartilage has largely matured. Earlier intervention can prevent years of teasing; waiting until the child can participate in the decision is equally reasonable. Dr. Truesdale evaluates the ear anatomy and family preference before recommending timing.
Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate. For young children, light general anesthesia may be used instead. Dr. Truesdale’s team is available throughout recovery. See “What kind of anesthesia is used?” for details on intra-operative comfort. Dr. Truesdale’s team is available throughout recovery — you are not managing discomfort on your own.
Our surgical procedures utilize a patient-focused anesthesia technique known as MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) and IV Sedation, ensuring your maximum comfort and safety. This method provides a level of gentle, deep sedation comparable to the comfortable experience many patients have during a colonoscopy, which we have found helps make patients less fearful. The anesthesia is administered intravenously and meticulously monitored by a hand-picked group of board-certified anesthesiologists, who are dedicated to your well-being throughout your entire procedure.
Plan on 7–10 days of social downtime. Expect a soft headband worn at night for 2–4 weeks; mild bruising for ~1 week. Light cardio resumes at 2 weeks; most patients are cleared for strenuous exercise at about three weeks, at a follow-up visit. Your follow-up appointments along the way are conducted by Dr. Truesdale and our physician assistant, with Dr. Truesdale seeing you personally at the key milestones.
That’s the entire standard Dr. Truesdale designs for. The new position should look like the one the ear was always meant to have. Every patient is evaluated in a seated, relaxed state beforehand so the target is based on your real anatomy — never on an idealized template.
Permanent. Cartilage repositioning is permanent. The ears hold their new shape indefinitely.
Yes. A significant portion of Dr. Truesdale’s patients travel from across the United States and internationally. The process begins with a virtual consultation with Dr. Truesdale himself (not a coordinator), followed by in-person pre-procedure evaluation. Our patient-care coordinators help arrange travel, accommodations, and local transportation, and Dr. Truesdale’s team conducts virtual follow-ups after you return home.
Request a consultation through the form at the bottom of this page, email contact@doctortruesdale.com, or call (424) 363-4112. Our team responds within one business day to schedule either an in-person consultation at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 360, Beverly Hills, or a virtual consultation worldwide. Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale.
Ear surgery can be performed at any age from 6 onward (once ear development is complete). Many families choose to address prominent ears before a child enters school, while adults pursuing otoplasty for self-image reasons do so at any age.
The cost of ear surgery can vary based on the patient’s situation, including if it is a revision surgery and if this surgery will be combined with other surgeries or treatments. The total cost may include the surgeon’s fee, operating room fees, and anesthesia fees. At Truesdale Facial Plastic Surgery, we believe the surgeon’s philosophy and experience, and your comfort with him, are just as important as the final cost of the surgery. We can provide an approximate range for this procedure over the phone, and your patient care coordinator (PCC) will confirm the pricing for you after your consultation with Dr. Truesdale.
Schedule your otoplasty consultation
Permanent ear correction through an incision no one will ever see — and a confidence transformation that patients describe as life-changing. We respond same-day, Monday-Friday.
Book a Surgical Discovery Call online
After clicking the booking link, select “new patient” under Schedule Your Appointment and fill out the form to see our current availability for a Surgical Discovery Call with a Patient Care Coordinator and book immediately. Call us (424) 363-4112 for additional appointment times and information.All times are based on Los Angeles, Pacific Time (PT).
Book Discovery Call →Prefer to share details first? Submit the form and a Patient Care Coordinator will reach out the same business day (Monday–Friday).