Quick answer
What is otoplasty?
Otoplasty, or ear pinning, is surgery that reshapes the ear cartilage to set prominent ears closer to the head or correct their shape, usually through an incision behind the ear. It suits adults and children from about age 5. Otoplasty in Turkey usually takes 1–2 hours, under local anaesthesia for adults or general anaesthesia for children, usually as a day case.
Otoplasty at a glance
- Procedure time
- Usually 1–2 hours
- Anaesthesia
- Local for adults, general for children
- Hospital stay
- Usually same day
- Time in Istanbul
- About 5–7 days
- Back to work or school
- Usually after about 1–2 weeks
- Price
- Written quote after review
Otoplasty in Istanbul: overview
Otoplasty, also called ear pinning or ear correction surgery, reshapes the cartilage of the ear so that prominent ears sit closer to the head or look more balanced. It is done on adults and on children once the ears are close to adult size, usually from about age 5. For otoplasty in Turkey, Med World Türkiye coordinates your treatment with independent, licensed partner plastic surgeons who operate in JCI-accredited partner hospitals in Istanbul. Before you travel, a partner surgeon reviews photos of the ears from the front, side and back, together with the medical history, and suggests whether one or both ears and which technique are likely to suit.
Otoplasty is usually a day case, but the ears need protecting while they heal. A head bandage is worn for the first days, then a soft headband, usually at night, for several weeks so the ears are not folded forward in sleep. Ears often feel sore, tender and numb for a while. Risks include bleeding under the skin, infection, stitches that work through the skin, thickened scars behind the ear, asymmetry, over-correction and the ear moving partly back towards its old position. We organise the surrounding logistics – airport transfers, a hotel near the hospital, an interpreter and remote aftercare follow-up – so you can focus on recovery.
Planning Otoplasty in Istanbul
Which Otoplasty techniques are available?
Suture (cartilage-sparing) otoplasty
Through an incision behind the ear, the surgeon places permanent stitches in the cartilage to create or deepen the natural fold of the ear and hold it closer to the head. No cartilage is cut. It suits ears with soft, flexible cartilage and is often used for children, although the stitches can occasionally loosen or work through the skin.
Cartilage-scoring and cutting techniques
When the cartilage is thick and stiff, as is common in adults, stitches alone may not hold the new shape. The surgeon then scores, thins or removes a small piece of cartilage before shaping it, often combined with stitches. These techniques can give a firmer correction but carry a slightly different risk profile, including visible irregularities of the cartilage.
Conchal setback and earlobe correction
Some ears stick out because the bowl of the ear (concha) is deep rather than because a fold is missing; the surgeon then sets the bowl back with stitches or removes a crescent of cartilage. A prominent or stretched earlobe can be reshaped at the same time, and one ear or both can be treated.
Limits and minimally invasive options
Otoplasty changes the position and shape of the ear, not its size, and two ears are never exactly identical afterwards. Thread or incisionless techniques through small punctures are offered for mild cases only; they leave less of a wound, but the ear may move back more easily, and your surgeon explains whether they suit you.
Not sure which option suits you?
Send your photos, scans or reports. A partner specialist reviews them and you receive a written plan and quote before you book anything.
Why choose Med World Türkiye for Otoplasty?
Surgeon review before you travel
A partner plastic surgeon reviews photos of the ears and the medical history and suggests a likely technique, so you know the plan for an adult or a child before you book flights.
JCI-accredited partner hospitals
Surgery takes place in JCI-accredited partner hospitals, under local anaesthesia for most adults and general anaesthesia given by an anaesthetist for children.
Itemised written quote
The written quote from the partner hospital lists the technique, one or both ears, the anaesthesia, bandages and headband and every other cost before you book anything, so you can see exactly what is and is not included.
One coordinated plan and aftercare
One coordinator arranges the consultation, surgery, bandage checks, hotel and transfers, and after you fly home passes your photos and questions to the partner surgeon for follow-up.
Who is a good candidate for Otoplasty?
- Adults who are bothered by prominent, folded or asymmetric ears and want them to sit closer to the head or look more balanced.
- Children from about age 5, when the ears are near adult size and the cartilage can hold stitches, who themselves want the change.
- People with healthy skin around the ears and no active ear infection, who are able to wear a bandage and headband as advised.
- Non-smokers, or smokers able to stop before and after surgery for as long as the surgeon advises, with realistic expectations about symmetry.
- Surgery is not a good idea if the child is younger than about 5, does not want the operation, or if you have an active ear infection, a bleeding disorder that has not been assessed, or expect two identical ears.
Otoplasty: is it right for me?
Questions people ask us in their own words, with straight answers.
My daughter is 7 and I’m nervous about a general anaesthetic for her abroad. Who puts her to sleep, and can I stay with her?
Your worry is understandable. For children, otoplasty is done under general anaesthesia given by an anaesthetist in a JCI-accredited partner hospital, after an anaesthetic assessment on arrival. It is usually a day case, so she normally returns to the hotel with you the same day. Hospitals often let a parent stay until the child is asleep and be there when she wakes, but ask about this in advance. Tell the team about any illness, allergies or medication, and if she has a cold or fever before surgery, the operation may be postponed.
I’m 45 and have hated my ears my whole life. Am I too old for otoplasty, and is it any different for adults?
Usually you are not too old. Adults often have otoplasty, commonly under local anaesthesia. Adult cartilage tends to be thicker and stiffer, so stitches alone may not hold the new shape, and the surgeon often scores, thins or removes a little cartilage as well. Recovery is similar to that of children: a head bandage for the first days, a soft headband at night for several weeks, and back to work after about 1–2 weeks. Healthy skin and realistic expectations about symmetry matter more than age. Send photos of your ears from the front, side and back for a partner surgeon’s view.
Two weeks after otoplasty, back home in Ohio, one ear seems to stick out more than the other. Is that normal, or has it failed?
It is usually too early to tell. At this stage swelling is often uneven, and the ears are usually close to their final shape only after a few months. Two ears are never exactly identical, though a clear difference that persists should be reviewed. Keep wearing the headband as advised, as an ear can move partly back, most often in the first months. Send photos from the front and back to your coordinator for the partner surgeon. If a correction is needed later, it is usually a smaller operation, so ask before booking what your plan says about this.
I wear glasses every day and love earrings. Will otoplasty stop me wearing them, and for how long?
Not permanently, but there is usually a short break. Glasses rest behind the ear, where the incision and stitches are, so in the first weeks they can press on the healing wound and on the bandage. Many people switch to contact lenses, or wear their glasses gently and briefly, until the surgeon agrees. Earrings may need to come out while the ears heal, especially if the earlobe is reshaped, as swelling and the headband can catch on them. Ask the partner surgeon at the consultation for timings that suit your technique.
My newborn daughter’s ears stick out. Is there anything we can do now, or do we have to wait until she’s 5?
Surgery waits, but there may be an option now. Otoplasty is usually offered from about age 5, when the ears are close to adult size. In the first weeks after birth, however, ear cartilage is still soft, and non-surgical ear moulding with small splints can sometimes reshape it. This works only while the cartilage is soft, so ask your paediatrician or a local specialist about it soon. If her ears still stick out when she is older, a partner surgeon can review photos then, and she should want the operation herself.
I had my ears pinned as a teenager and one has slowly gone back. Can otoplasty be redone, and is it harder the second time?
Often, yes. An ear can move partly back towards its old position, and some people need a second, smaller operation. Revision can be more complex than the first surgery because of scar tissue and stitches already in place, and the surgeon may need a different technique, such as scoring the cartilage. Send photos of both ears from the front, side and back, and any notes from your first operation if you have them. A partner surgeon can then tell you whether a revision is likely to help and what it would involve.
What does a Otoplasty trip to Istanbul look like?
- 1
Before travel – Photos & surgeon review
You send photos of the ears from the front, side and back, the medical history and a list of any medication. A partner plastic surgeon reviews them, and you receive a written plan and an itemised quote before you book anything.
- 2
Day 1 – Arrival & consultation
After an airport transfer to your hotel, the surgeon examines the ears, confirms the technique and explains where the scars will sit. Blood tests and, for children or general anaesthesia, an anaesthetic assessment follow before the consent form is signed, by a parent or guardian for a child.
- 3
Day 2 – Surgery & rest
Otoplasty usually takes 1–2 hours, under local anaesthesia for adults or general anaesthesia for children. Most people return to the hotel the same day wearing a padded head bandage, with pain relief and instructions for sleeping with the head raised.
- 4
Days 3–7 – Check-ups & flying home
You rest at the hotel and attend check-ups, where the bandage is changed or removed and replaced by a headband, and non-dissolvable stitches are taken out when the surgeon advises. Your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly, so a flexible return ticket is sensible.
What is recovery like after Otoplasty?
Recovery after otoplasty is gradual, and the ears need protecting while the cartilage settles in its new position. In the first days, expect soreness, swelling, throbbing and some numbness; a padded head bandage stays on until the surgeon removes it, usually after a few days, and you sleep with your head raised and take the prescribed pain relief. Keep the bandage dry and do not lift it to look. After that, you wear a soft headband, usually at night, for several weeks so the ears are not bent forward in sleep. Most adults return to work and most children to school after about 1–2 weeks. Avoid swimming for several weeks and contact sports for longer, until your surgeon agrees, as a knock can damage the result. Bruising settles over a few weeks; swelling and numbness can take longer, and the ears are usually close to their final shape after a few months. The scar behind the ear fades gradually. Contact the surgeon promptly about increasing pain on one side, swelling, bleeding, discharge, fever or a bad smell from the bandage.
Otoplasty in Turkey: how much does it cost?
The price of otoplasty in Turkey depends mainly on whether one or both ears are treated, the technique – suture otoplasty, cartilage scoring or removal, conchal setback or earlobe correction – and the type of anaesthesia, which for children is general. The partner surgeon, the partner hospital, bandages and headband, and the number of nights in the hotel, including for an accompanying parent, also affect the total. Treatment in Turkey often costs less than private treatment in countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and much of Western Europe, mainly because of lower operating costs, but price should never be the only reason to choose a surgeon. With Med World Türkiye, a partner plastic surgeon first reviews the photos and medical history; you then receive a written, itemised quote from the partner hospital before you book anything.
What your written quote itemises
- Surgeon and anaesthesia fees
- Operating theatre and day-case stay
- Pre-operative tests and anaesthetic assessment
- Head bandage, headband, dressings and medication
- Hotel accommodation and airport transfers, if requested
- Interpreter and remote aftercare follow-up
Med World Türkiye does not publish a price list. Every price comes from a written, itemised quote issued by the partner hospital after a surgeon has reviewed your photos, scans or medical records.
Otoplasty: frequently asked questions
How much does otoplasty cost in Turkey?
The cost of otoplasty in Turkey depends on whether one or both ears are treated, the technique, the type of anaesthesia, the partner surgeon and hospital, and nights in the hotel, including for an accompanying parent when the patient is a child. The surgeon review is free: you send photos of the ears and the medical history, a partner plastic surgeon reviews them, and you then receive a written, itemised quote from the partner hospital before you book anything.
Is ear pinning surgery in Turkey safe?
Ear pinning surgery in Turkey can be safe when it is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon in an accredited hospital, with appropriate anaesthetic care for children. Med World Türkiye works with partner surgeons in JCI-accredited hospitals. Risks include bleeding under the skin, infection of the skin or cartilage, stitches working through the skin, thickened or raised scars behind the ear, numbness, asymmetry, over-correction and the ear moving partly back. Your surgeon explains these before you consent.
How long should I stay in Istanbul for otoplasty?
Plan to stay in Istanbul for about 5–7 days for otoplasty. This usually covers the consultation on arrival, surgery as a day case, and check-ups where the head bandage is changed or removed and replaced by a headband, before your surgeon confirms you are fit to fly. If non-dissolvable stitches are used, the surgeon tells you when they need removing. A child travels with a parent or guardian, and a flexible return ticket is sensible.
What is the right age for otoplasty in children?
Otoplasty is usually offered to children from about age 5, when the ears are close to adult size and the cartilage is firm enough to hold stitches. Younger children are generally not suitable, as their ears are still growing. Many families choose the years around starting school, but the child should want the operation and be able to follow aftercare such as wearing a headband. A parent or guardian gives consent, and the partner surgeon decides on suitability.
Are otoplasty results permanent?
Otoplasty results are usually long-lasting, because the reshaped cartilage is held by permanent stitches or has been scored or reduced. However, the ear can move partly back towards its old position, most often in the first months or if it is knocked or bent while healing, and some people need a second, smaller operation. Wearing the headband as advised and avoiding contact sports until your surgeon agrees help protect the result.
Does otoplasty hurt, and will there be visible scars?
Otoplasty is done under local or general anaesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the operation. Afterwards the ears are usually sore, tender and throbbing for some days, which prescribed pain relief helps, and numbness can last for weeks. The incision is usually behind the ear, in the crease where it meets the head, so the scar is usually hidden. Some people form thickened or raised scars there, which your surgeon can treat.
What is the difference between suture and cartilage-cutting otoplasty?
Suture otoplasty reshapes the ear with permanent stitches in the cartilage without cutting it, which suits soft, flexible cartilage and is often used for children. Cartilage-scoring or cutting techniques thin, score or remove part of the cartilage before shaping it, which can help with the thicker, stiffer cartilage common in adults. Both are done through an incision behind the ear and are often combined. Your surgeon recommends a technique after examining the ears.
How do I choose an ear pinning surgeon in Turkey I can trust?
Choose a plastic surgeon or a facial plastic or ENT surgeon who performs otoplasty regularly, and ask which technique they suggest for your ears, such as stitches alone or cartilage reshaping. For a child, check that the hospital has paediatric anaesthesia and that the child wants the operation too. A careful surgeon looks at photos of both ears from several angles and explains how they aim for a natural, balanced result. Through Med World Türkiye, your written plan names the partner surgeon and hospital, and you can show it to a doctor at home before you agree.
Related procedures
Part of our specialty: Aesthetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
This page provides general information and is not medical advice. Whether a procedure is right for you, which technique is used and what results to expect can only be decided after a consultation with a qualified specialist. All surgery carries risks, which your surgeon will explain before you consent.