Otoplasty — Prominent Ear Correction

Otoplasty (prominent ear correction) at Klinika Kasiopea reshapes ears that protrude significantly from the head, creating a more natural ear angle through precise cartilage modification under local anaesthesia. The procedure — 60–90 minutes for both ears — is performed with the patient awake and is the same-day outpatient basis. An incision behind the ear allows the surgeon to fold and suture the ear cartilage into the correct position; the result is immediately visible when the surgical dressing is replaced with a post-operative headband. Klinika Kasiopea treats both adults and children, with the procedure suitable at any age once the ear cartilage has reached adult consistency.

Otoplasty at Klinika Kasiopea addresses prominent ears — ears whose antihelical fold is underdeveloped or whose conchal cartilage is overdeveloped, causing the ear to protrude at an angle greater than 25–30 degrees from the skull. While medically benign, prominent ears are a source of significant psychological distress, particularly in children and adolescents subjected to teasing, and in adults who have spent years managing their appearance around the condition. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia at the clinic. Following precise pre-operative measurement of the current ear angle and the target correction, the skin behind the ear is infiltrated with local anaesthetic. A curved incision is made in the posterior auricular groove — the natural fold behind the ear — giving direct access to the ear cartilage. The surgical technique varies depending on the anatomical cause of the protrusion: for antihelical fold underdevelopment, the cartilage is scored and sutured into the correct fold; for excess conchal cartilage, a small ellipse of cartilage is removed to reduce the depth and projection of the bowl-shaped conchal region. Both techniques are frequently combined when both anatomical features are present. The reshaped cartilage is fixed with permanent mattress sutures that maintain the new position as the cartilage heals. The posterior skin incision is closed with fine sutures in the crease behind the ear; the resulting scar is entirely hidden within this natural fold. Both ears are treated in the same session (total 60–90 minutes); treatment of one ear takes approximately 45 minutes. Post-operatively, a padded dressing is applied and worn for the first 24–48 hours. This is then replaced with a soft elastic headband — similar to a sports headband — that holds the ears in their new position during the healing phase. The headband is worn continuously for two weeks, then nightly for a further four weeks. Because the ears are effectively in a splint during this period, the result established by surgery is reinforced as the cartilage heals. Pain after otoplasty is typically minimal — the clinic describes the post-operative experience as 'nearly painless.' Visible improvement is immediate; final results stabilise within two to three months. The correction is permanent: the repositioned cartilage maintains its new shape indefinitely. The procedure is available for patients of any age once the ear cartilage has reached adult consistency — typically around five to six years of age for children. Adults who have lived with prominent ears for decades benefit equally from the procedure. The clinic's team speaks English, German and Italian in addition to Czech, making it accessible to international patients.