Is Otoplasty Painful?

Otoplasty is generally not described as painful, though patients may experience mild soreness or tightness around the ears in the first few days after surgery. Discomfort is usually well controlled with over-the-counter or prescription medication and improves steadily as swelling decreases. Most patients, including children, find the recovery surprisingly manageable. The supportive headband used after surgery helps minimize tenderness and protects the ears as they heal.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Most patients require three to four appointments: the initial consultation, the surgery appointment, and one or two follow-up visits to monitor healing and remove dressings. Additional visits may be recommended based on your unique anatomy and how your ears respond during recovery.

How Long Until I See Results?

Mild swelling will temporarily obscure the final contour, but a noticeable difference will be apparent immediately after surgery. Most patients see about 80% of their final results within 3–4 weeks, with continued refinement over the next few months. Once the ears settle into their new positions, the results are long-lasting and stable, and they harmonize naturally with your facial features.

Can I Combine Otoplasty With Other Procedures?

Yes, otoplasty can be easily combined with other facial procedures, particularly those involving the chin, jawline, or nose, to enhance facial balance. Some patients choose to combine otoplasty with rhinoplasty or chin augmentation to achieve greater facial harmony. During your consultation, Dr. Noud will discuss your goals and help you determine whether combining procedures is appropriate and safe based on your anatomy and overall health.

What Are the Risks Associated With Otoplasty?

While otoplasty is generally a safe procedure, potential risks include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, scarring, or irritation from sutures. Rarely, patients may experience temporary changes in skin sensation or require revision surgery to refine the results.

Otoplasty

Name: Statera Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Brand: Statera Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (35 reviews)

in San Francisco

Introduction

Introduction to Otoplasty

For many individuals, the shape, size, or position of the ears has been a lifelong source of self-consciousness. Even subtle concerns, such as ears that project slightly forward or appear asymmetrical, can affect how someone feels about their appearance, especially in photos, social interactions, or certain hairstyles. Children may experience teasing or unwanted attention, while adults often express a desire to finally address concerns they’ve carried since childhood.

Otoplasty offers a safe, transformative solution that enhances facial balance without changing the essence of your natural features. From her San Francisco location, double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Meaghan Noud creates results that are polished, natural-looking, and harmonious with the rest of the face. Whether performed on a child, teen, or adult, otoplasty can dramatically improve confidence while maintaining a soft, subtle aesthetic.

A man leans against a light gray tiled wall, resting his head on his right arm. He has dark brown hair, a short dark beard, and wears a fitted black ribbed t-shirt. He looks at the camera with a neutral expression. Natural light casts subtle shadows, and a light-colored building is faintly visible in the background.

What is Otoplasty?

Otoplasty is a cosmetic ear surgery that reshapes, repositions, or reduces the size of the ears. Most commonly, this procedure addresses prominent ears, where the ear sits farther from the head than desired, but it can also correct irregularities, asymmetry, or deformities resulting from injury or genetics.

During the procedure, Dr. Noud carefully adjusts the ear cartilage and soft tissue to create a more natural contour and proportion. Incisions are made behind the ear to minimize or conceal visible scarring and achieve a balanced, symmetrical appearance that feels authentic to the patient’s overall facial structure.

Who Are the Best Candidates For Otoplasty?

Candidates for otoplasty in San Francisco include children (typically age five or older), teens, and adults who are dissatisfied with the appearance or projection of their ears. Good candidates typically have concerns such as protruding ears, asymmetry, overly large earlobes, or congenital irregularities.

Patients should be in good health, have fully developed ear cartilage, and possess realistic expectations regarding the outcome. For young patients, motivation and emotional readiness are important, as otoplasty is most successful when the child expresses a personal desire to improve their ears rather than feeling pressured.

What Are the Benefits of Otoplasty?

Otoplasty offers both aesthetic and psychological benefits, especially for individuals who have struggled with ear-related insecurities for years. For example, benefits include:

Enhanced ear symmetry and a more proportionate appearance.
Correction of ear protrusion, bringing the ears closer to the head for a more balanced profile.
Improved confidence, particularly for children and teens who may experience teasing.
A natural-looking outcome, achieved by reshaping cartilage rather than simply pinning ears back.
Permanent results, with long-term stability and little need for future adjustments.

Even the smallest refinements can create a significant improvement in overall facial harmony.

What’s the First Step?

Your otoplasty experience begins with a private consultation with Dr. Meaghan Noud at Statera Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery in San Francisco, during which she will evaluate your ear structure, cartilage firmness, symmetry, and facial proportions.

You’ll discuss your goals, medical history, and any previous concerns or injuries involving the ears. Dr. Noud will explain the various surgical techniques available and recommend the approach best suited to your anatomy and aesthetic preferences. This initial visit ensures you fully understand the procedure, expected results, and recovery process before moving forward.

A patient coordinator in a black top sits in a cream-colored chair, carefully reviewing a treatment brochure with a client.

What to Expect on the Day of Otoplasty Surgery

On the day of your otoplasty, you’ll arrive at our San Francisco surgical facility, where Dr. Noud and her team will review your plan and ensure you feel comfortable and informed. Depending on your age and the complexity of the procedure, otoplasty may be performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia.

Small incisions are made behind the ear to reshape the cartilage, set it closer to the head, or refine the overall contour. Dr. Noud uses precise suturing techniques to maintain the new position while preserving natural curvature. After the incisions are closed, compression dressings are applied to support healing and protect the ears during the initial recovery period.

Dr. Meaghan Noud in her white lab coat, holding an anatomical skull model to explain deep-plane facial structures to a patient.

Otoplasty Recovery

Your Guide to Post-Otoplasty Care

After otoplasty, patients experience mild soreness, swelling, or tightness around the ears for the first several days. A protective headband or dressing is worn to support healing and prevent accidental bending or pressure on the ears, especially during sleep.

Most patients return to school or work within a week, although strenuous activities and contact sports should be avoided for several weeks. As the swelling subsides, the results become more visible.

How Much Does Otoplasty Cost in San Francisco, CA?

The cost of Otoplasty in San Francisco varies based on factors such as the complexity of the surgery, whether one or both ears are treated, the type of anesthesia, and facility fees. After your consultation, you will receive a personalized cost estimate outlining all associated expenses.

Because otoplasty is typically cosmetic, it is not usually covered by insurance unless associated with trauma or medical need. Statera Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery offers financing options to help make treatment accessible for patients of all ages.

Why Choose Dr. Noud?

Double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Meaghan Noud brings exceptional precision, artistic understanding, and a patient-centered philosophy to every otoplasty procedure. Her training in both ENT and facial plastics and affiliations with the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS), the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), and the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery (AAFPRS) allows her to approach ear surgery with a detailed understanding of facial balance, cartilage structure, and natural harmony.

Patients in San Francisco and all across the country trust Dr. Noud for her warm communication style, meticulous surgical technique, and commitment to creating results that feel subtle, soft, and authentically “you.” At Statera, your safety, comfort, and confidence are the highest priority.

Otoplasty FAQ’S

Otoplasty is generally not described as painful, though patients may experience mild soreness or tightness around the ears in the first few days after surgery. Discomfort is usually well controlled with over-the-counter or prescription medication and improves steadily as swelling decreases.

Most patients, including children, find the recovery surprisingly manageable. The supportive headband used after surgery helps minimize tenderness and protects the ears as they heal.
Mild swelling will temporarily obscure the final contour, but a noticeable difference will be apparent immediately after surgery. Most patients see about 80% of their final results within 3–4 weeks, with continued refinement over the next few months.

Once the ears settle into their new positions, the results are long-lasting and stable, and they harmonize naturally with your facial features.
Yes, otoplasty can be easily combined with other facial procedures, particularly those involving the chin, jawline, or nose, to enhance facial balance. Some patients choose to combine otoplasty with rhinoplasty or chin augmentation to achieve greater facial harmony.

During your consultation, Dr. Noud will discuss your goals and help you determine whether combining procedures is appropriate and safe based on your anatomy and overall health.

Schedule Your Consultation

Schedule your consultation with Dr. Meaghan Noud at Statera Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery. Give us a call at our San Francisco office (415) 781-2081, email us at colleen@staterasf.com, or fill out the online form to get started.

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