Natural-looking ears, quieter confidence
Otoplasty is a type of surgery that changes the shape of the outer ear (auricle) to make it less noticeable, more symmetrical, or to fix shape problems that have been there since childhood or gotten worse over time. The goal is not to make “perfect” ears.
The goal is to make the ears and face look more natural from the front, side, and in pictures. Dr. Kevin Haddad plans based on your anatomy, so your cartilage strength, ear folds, and head shape decide how to do it. This way, the result looks more polished than “pinned.”
People with prominent ears usually have one or more of these anatomical patterns: an underdeveloped antihelical fold (the natural inner fold that helps the ear sit back), an overdeveloped conchal bowl (the deeper central part of the ear), or a mix that changes the angle of the ear to the head.
This is important because the “right” fix depends on what caused the problem. If you treat the wrong structure, your ear may look flat, set back too far, or uneven at certain angles.
Otoplasty can fix problems like ears that stick out, ears that don’t project evenly, or ears that have an odd shape that draws attention. A lot of the time, the goal is to make the folds a little less noticeable and more refined, not to make a big change.
A natural-looking result usually means that the ear still has depth and normal curves, but it is better balanced with the head and face.
The best candidates are healthy, know what symmetry is, and want a natural correction instead of a “erased” ear shape. Both adults and children can have otoplasty done. It is usually done when the child’s ears have grown enough and they can follow the aftercare instructions.
Many modern otoplasty methods don’t damage the cartilage. Instead, they use carefully placed sutures to recreate or strengthen the antihelical fold and, if necessary, move the conchal bowl closer to the head. This method tries to keep the natural shapes while changing the position.
In real life, Dr. Kevin Haddad customizes the procedures to fit your ear. For example, he makes a clean fold where it is missing, lowers conchal prominence when it pushes the ear outward, and fine-tunes lobule position if the lower ear needs to be balanced.
Incisions are typically placed behind the ear, within the natural crease where the ear meets the scalp. This positioning helps keep scars discreet once healed, while giving the surgeon access to shape and stabilise the cartilage.
Scar visibility depends on skin type and healing tendency, but the intent is always the same: a well-hidden line and a natural ear edge from the front.
After surgery, the ear needs protection while the new contours stabilise. Postoperative dressings and headband routines vary by surgeon and technique, and research has explored shorter dressing periods in selected patients without worsening outcomes.
Most people who have otoplasty recover without any problems, but it’s important to know that there are some possible problems, such as hematoma (blood collection), infection, irritation or erosion of the sutures, hypertrophic scarring or keloids, asymmetry, and recurrence that needs revision.
Stable cartilage shaping (without too much tension), careful wound care, and clear instructions on how to protect the ear during the early healing phase all lower these risks by a lot.