What is Otoplasty?
Otoplasty improves the size, shape, and structure of the ear's external parts to correct earlobe stretching due to heavy earrings, torn earlobes, and overly large or protruding ears, among other aesthetic issues.
The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the ears frame the face. Prominent ears and damaged lobes often have a significant psychological impact that can hinder one’s confidence as a child or adult.
Brandon Lambiris MD strives to deliver the best otoplasty Sarasota has to offer and has various surgical procedures designed to improve cosmetic ear defects in as little as 30 minutes to two hours.
Otoplasty improves the size, shape, and structure of the ear's external parts to correct earlobe stretching due to heavy earrings, torn earlobes, and overly large or protruding ears, among other aesthetic issues.
Otoplasty is a precision-based procedure designed to recalibrate the projection and symmetry of the ears. While often associated with pediatric patients, adults in Ventura County increasingly seek this correction to resolve long-standing self-consciousness regarding ear prominence.
Ideal candidates for otoplasty are individuals who have reached full ear cartilage development, which typically occurs by age five or six. At West Coast Plastic Surgery, we evaluate candidates based on anatomical needs and realistic expectations.
You may be a candidate if:
At his Sarasota County plastic surgery practice, Dr. Lambiris offers three types of cosmetic ear surgery to correct a wide range of concerns: ear pinning, earlobe repair, earlobe reduction. Each operation differs based on the type of ear revision that is necessary.
These in-office procedures entail local anesthetic, markings, and sterilization with Betadine prep, followed by the limited resectioning of excess skin and scar tissue. He then applies approximately 7 to 10 sutures front and back along with a gauze bandage. The sutures come out approximately one week later during a follow-up visit.
Dr. Lambiris may perform ear pinning or otoplasty with local anesthesia in adults, while children typically undergo general anesthesia, so there is no pain or memory of the event. First, he makes a small incision on either the back of the ear or the inner folds of the ear. Then, he performs ear reshaping through the incision by manipulating the soft tissues and cartilage and securing them in place with permanent sutures.
Otoplasty recovery is focused on protecting the new position of the cartilage while it heals in its recessed state.
The First 48 Hours: You will wear a soft, bulky head dressing to maintain the new position and minimize swelling. Following otoplasty Sarasota patients most often report a sensation of tightness rather than acute pain, with mild soreness that improves steadily over the first week. Weeks 1-2: The initial dressing is replaced by a lighter headband, similar to an athletic sweatband. This must be worn 24/7 to prevent the ears from being accidentally pulled forward during sleep. The Provider’s Notebook: We advise patients to sleep in a reclined position for the first week. This significantly reduces localized edema (swelling) and prevents accidental pressure on the suture lines. Physical Activity: While you can return to professional or school duties within a week, contact sports must be avoided for at least six weeks to ensure the structural integrity of the repair.
The results of an otoplasty are visible immediately after the initial bandages are removed, though the final refinement appears as the residual swelling dissipates over three months. The scars are strategically placed in the posterior auricular crease (the shadow behind the ear), making them virtually undetectable even with short hair. These changes are permanent; the cartilage is reshaped and secured with internal sutures that remain in place to reinforce the new contour.
The cost of otoplasty reflects the complexity of the required cartilage reshaping. A simple pinning is priced differently from a bilateral reconstruction or a revision of a previous surgery.
Your quote will include the surgical facility fee, anesthesia, and all post-operative follow-up appointments with Dr. Lambiris. Because otoplasty is generally considered an aesthetic refinement, it is rarely covered by insurance unless the surgery is correcting a congenital deformity or a traumatic injury.
To ensure aesthetic goals remain accessible, we offer financing through CareCredit, PatientFi, and Cherry. These platforms allow you to distribute the cost of surgery into manageable monthly installments.
To learn more about otoplasty, ear lobe reduction, and ear lobe repair in Sarasota, schedule a consultation with Brandon Lambiris, MD. Call (941) 366-9818 or click the booking link on this page to book your appointment. Dr. Lambiris is a top-rated plastic surgeon serving patients in Sarasota, North Port, Bradenton, and surrounding regions in Southwest Florida.
The cost of earlobe repair depends on the extent of surgical revision required to modify the lobe and whether one or both earlobes are affected. In the United States, the average lobe repair cost is $500 to $2,000. However, you may pay more or less than the national average.
Insurance does not cover cosmetic ear procedures.
The operation itself is painless due to local anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on the nature of the procedure. Because some of the external ear structures have fewer nerve endings than other areas of the body, many patients find ear surgery causes modest discomfort or aching in recovery that subsides within a week or so.
Showering after ear surgery is possible the next day. Take care to avoid scrubbing or irritating the incisions, then thoroughly pat dry and apply a clean bandage.
Dr. Lambiris will ask you to return to his office for a follow-up visit approximately one week later to remove the sutures.
Pinning back ears that protrude is a common type of otoplasty that Dr. Lambiris routinely performs on both children and adults. Otoplasty may entail pinnaplasty and/or surgically reshaping the outermost portion of the ears.
No. Otoplasty only addresses the external structure of the ear (the pinna). The surgery does not involve the middle or inner ear structures responsible for hearing.
We typically recommend waiting until the child is at least five or six years old. At this stage, the ear cartilage is stable enough for surgical manipulation, but still pliable enough to be easily reshaped.
Yes. Once the cartilage has healed into its new position and the internal support sutures have done their work, the ears will stay in their recessed position permanently.
Scars are tucked into the natural fold where the back of the ear meets the head. Unless someone is looking specifically behind your ear with a bright light, the incision site is not visible.
For children, general anesthesia is used to ensure they remain still. For adults, the procedure can often be performed under local anesthesia with deep sedation, depending on the patient's comfort level.
Dr. Brandon Lambiris believes everyone deserves the opportunity to look their best. If you’ve dreamed of having plastic surgery to unlock your true potential, we encourage you to join us for a consultation. Experience the real difference plastic surgery can have on your life at West Coast Plastic Surgery in Sarasota, FL.
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Fri: 8:30am - 2:00pm
