Ear pinning (pinnaplasty) at Spire St Anthony's Hospital

You may decide you want this procedure because you feel your ears stick out too much or are too large, or you're not happy with their shape. Whatever the reason, we can help.

During this procedure, which is also known as pinnaplasty or otoplasty, small cuts are made behind each ear so cartilage can be re-shaped, folded or removed to give you a shape you're happy with.

We pride ourselves on our clinical excellence, you'll be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

This treatment is also available to children aged 3 to 18 through our dedicated paediatric service.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see and when you want. They’ll be with you every step of the way: from giving advice at your first consultation, through to offering on-going support after your surgery.

All of our consultant surgeons are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well equipped hospitals.

A consultant surgeon's reputation, qualifications and experience are vitally important, so we only work with consultant grade specialists. These are highly experienced consultants who have completed years of medical training.

All our consultant surgeons are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC), and many are also members of the UK’s leading cosmetic and plastic surgery associations.

You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

We understand that having surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.

Ear pinning normally takes between one and two hours. It can be performed under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep during the procedure, or under local anaesthetic. This means the area to be operated on will be numb but you'll be awake. If you have a local anaesthetic, we may offer you a sedative to help you relax.

During the surgery, your surgeon will make cuts behind each ear. The cartilage may be re-shaped, folded, or some of it removed depending on what you agreed with your surgeon. Stitches are then used to hold the ear back in its new position.

After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home. You’ll usually be able to return home later the same day following ear pinning.

Pain relief

Your ears may be sore, tender and feel numb for a few days, and you may experience a tingling in your ears for a few weeks. You may particularly be aware of this during the night. You can use over-the-counter pain relief to ease these symptoms.

We will provide you with a supply of all the medicines your consultant feels you need to take home with you after you've left hospital, up to 14 days. This may be at an additional cost to some patients.

Recovery time

After ear pinning surgery, your consultant will advise you on how to make your recovery as quick as possible.

You will need to wear a compressive garment over your head and ears for the first 24 to 72 hours. In the first week after the procedure the garment can generally be removed and the patient can return to work or school.

End results

You should be able to see the end results in six weeks or less, and any swelling should be completely subsided within three months.

How your loved ones can help

Once you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange a taxi, friend or family member to take you home as you won’t be able to drive.

Looking after you

Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. After ear pinning, typically our consultants will want to see you after your procedure to see how you are doing. An appointment will be made for you before you leave hospital.

On rare occasions, complications following ear pinning can occur. If you experience any of these symptoms – redness and swelling around the scar or stitches being pushed out – please call us straight away. Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.

If you have any questions or concerns, we’re ready to help.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

At Spire St Anthony’s in Cheam, we provide this treatment to children through our paediatrics services subject to exclusions based on the nature of clinical presentation.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.