Face · Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon · Mayo Clinic–Trained
Ears in perfect harmony
Otoplasty by Dr. Humberto Palladino. Careful ear correction for adults and children alike.
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What is otoplasty?
Confidence in every detail
Protruding, oversized, or disfigured ears can quietly erode self-confidence, especially when they cannot be hidden behind long hair. Ear surgery changes that.
Surgical ear correction, called otoplasty, can give a more aesthetically pleasing size and shape to your ears or address a genetic abnormality, depending on your unique needs. Otoplasty is frequently performed on children to prevent them from being teased at school.
Dr. Humberto Palladino has years of experience performing otoplasty on both children and adults. You and your family are looked after with personal attention and surgical precision, from the first consultation through recovery.
Is otoplasty right for you?
Am I a good candidate for ear surgery?
Otoplasty may be the right solution for adults and children who are bothered by the size, shape, or position of their ears.
As long as you are in good health with reasonable expectations of surgery, otoplasty is most likely the right solution for you.
If you are considering the surgery for your child, he or she should be at least five years old and able to communicate clearly with Dr. Palladino.
During a personal otoplasty consultation, Dr. Palladino will ask you what you don't like about your ears; he will also perform an examination, and together you will develop a plan for correction. He will give you all of the information that you need to prepare for the day of surgery, including instructions on medications you can and cannot take prior to surgery.
Free EvaluationGood candidates typically have:
- Ears that protrude noticeably from the sides of the head
- Ears perceived as too large or disproportionate to the face
- Asymmetrical or irregularly shaped ears
- A genetic ear abnormality they would like corrected
- Good overall health and realistic expectations
- Children: at least five years of age, able to communicate their concerns
The surgery
What to expect on the day of surgery
Outpatient care
Otoplasty is an outpatient procedure. You will need to ask a loved one to drive you to and from surgery and remain available for the duration.
Anesthesia & comfort
Anesthesia and sedation medications are administered to make the experience comfortable throughout the procedure.
Precision ear correction
Dr. Palladino carefully reshapes, repositions, or corrects the ear cartilage to achieve natural-looking, proportionate results tailored to your anatomy and goals.
Post-operative recovery
After surgery, you will recover in the post-operative suite for a short time until you are cleared to return home in the care of a trusted companion.
All surgery carries risks. Suitability, surgical approach, and what to expect are determined during your personal consultation with Dr. Palladino.
After surgery
Your recovery, what to expect
Temporary swelling and tenderness are part of the healing process. Dr. Palladino guides you at every step.
First few days
Your ears, or your child's ears, will be swollen and tender after surgery, but these side effects are temporary. Any discomfort can be managed with prescription pain medication. It's best to keep your head propped up as much as possible during this period.
Follow-up visits
Dr. Palladino will schedule several follow-up appointments to check the ears' healing progress. Attend each one; they let him monitor recovery and answer any questions you have.
Return to activity
He will advise when it is safe to return to work, school, and other physical activities. Timelines vary by individual healing and by the nature of the work or activity.
Enjoying your results
After clearance, you can begin to enjoy showing off your newly corrected ears. Results are visible as initial swelling subsides; individual healing timelines vary.
Learn more
Ear surgery, in Dr. Palladino's own words
Common questions
Otoplasty, answered
As long as you are in good health with reasonable expectations of surgery, otoplasty is most likely the right solution for you. If you are considering the surgery for your child, he or she should be at least five years old and able to communicate clearly with Dr. Palladino. Suitability is confirmed during a personal consultation. Dr. Palladino will examine your ears, listen to your concerns, and together you will develop a correction plan tailored to your anatomy.
If you are considering the surgery for your child, he or she should be at least five years old and able to communicate clearly with Dr. Palladino. By this age, ear cartilage is generally firm enough to hold the correction, and the child can meaningfully express their own feelings about their appearance. Dr. Palladino treats both children and adults with the same careful, personalized approach.
Otoplasty is an outpatient procedure. You will need to ask a loved one to drive you to and from surgery and remain available for its duration. Anesthesia and sedation medications are administered to make the experience comfortable. After surgery, you will recover in the post-operative suite for a short time until you are cleared to return home.
Your ears, or your child's ears, will be swollen and tender after surgery, but these side effects are temporary. Any discomfort can be managed with prescription pain medication. It's best to keep your head propped up as much as possible in the days following surgery. Dr. Palladino will schedule several follow-up appointments to check the ears' healing progress, and he will advise when it is safe to return to work, school, and other physical activities.
Ear surgery prices vary depending on the technique selected; it might be somewhere around $2,700 to $3,900. This price range already includes the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and the medical facilities. Your specific cost estimate will be provided during your personal consultation with Dr. Palladino, once a treatment plan has been developed for your unique needs.
Dr. Palladino takes care to place incisions in natural creases and concealable locations behind the ear. Any resulting scars tend to be discreet and well-hidden. The approach used, and therefore the precise incision locations, will depend on your individual anatomy and the correction planned. Dr. Palladino will walk you through what to expect during your consultation.
Investment
Ear surgery, pricing
Ear surgery prices vary depending on the technique selected; it might be somewhere around $2,700 to $3,900. This price range already includes the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and the medical facilities.
Your personalised estimate is determined at consultation. Financing options are available; ask Dr. Palladino's team for details.
Related procedures
More face procedures by Dr. Palladino
#believeinmagic
Ears that finally go unnoticed.
Begin with a Free Evaluation. Dr. Palladino will listen, examine, and build a plan around your anatomy and your goals.
Free Evaluation (866) 624-7874