Ears that stick out

In about two-thirds of cases, sticking-out ears are evident at birth, so can be dealt with straight away. The gristle (cartilage) of a newborn baby is soft, so the ears can be corrected by placing a special small splint of cushioned wire in the hollow of the rim of the ear and taping it back for several weeks (British Medical Journal 2007;334:366–8). This can be done only if the baby is younger than 6 months, and the earlier the better. Parents can buy a kit containing splints with instructions (see Useful contacts).

An operation (otoplasty) to correct sticking-out ears is often done when the child is over 5 or 6 years old. However, there is no reason why it cannot be done at any age. The operation does not affect hearing.

 

Children need a general anaesthetic, but adults can have the operation with just a local anaesthetic. There are several different techniques. In the most common operation, the surgeon cuts away skin and tissue from behind each ear, and stitches it into its new position. The ears are bandaged for about 10 days after the operation, and after that the stitches are removed. You will have to wear a headband at night for the next 2 weeks so that you do not accidentally bend the ears forward during sleep.

 

As with any plastic surgery operation, it is important to find a plastic surgeon who is skilled at this particular operation. If it is clumsily done, you may end up with a plastered-down look, or with ears that do not look the same. Look at the section on cosmetic surgery [LINK] for general advice.
 

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Monday, March 15th 2010

Useful contacts for ears stick out

Click to see all the contacts that you may find useful in relation to ears stick out

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Comments on this article

Posted by Optional on 14/07/2010 at 01:02:04 pm

I got an otoplasty, it was such a good improvement to my self-esteem

Posted by Optional on 06/06/2010 at 06:06:14 pm

Mydaugher is 5 and a half months old with ears that stick out. Is it to late for ear splints. What is the best thing to do.

Posted by Rob on 13/05/2010 at 12:31:48 pm

I was always told that I had ears like my Great Grandfather. When I finally saw a picture of him, and then compared my ears to his, I about died. Everytime I got a haircut as a kid I would just cry. I finally got comfortble having ears that stick out and let it go. However, totally by accident I noticed my righ ear is now in a normal position. It took me a while to figure out how this is possible, but finally it dawned on my. I purchased a memory foam mattress pad at one of the "clubs" a year ago. because of the effect of not rolling over, I sleep on one side the entire night. I do not move. I have since started sleeping on the other side of the bed and I am noticing a difference on the other ear in just 5 months. Crazy?? You say? I say..I totally worked for me. And appearently you don't have to be an infant with developing or growing cartiledge to see results. I would guess if your a deep sleeper you will have good results. Good luck to anyone that tries it!

Posted by Hello2 on 07/05/2010 at 11:38:49 pm

I wish girls found ears sticking out cute and kind of sexy. It doesn't help my self confidence at times but plastic surgery doesn't seem the way to go.

Posted by Hello on 07/04/2010 at 09:22:48 am

Are you guys mad! I think that sticky out ears are really cute, and kind of sexy. And having a childs ears pinned back is wrong unless there is a serious medical reason for it. It is their body, let them choose when they are older. Also, I'm just curious to know if this surgery can be reversed if the person decides they don't like it?

Posted by help needed!! on 28/03/2010 at 08:04:15 am

if anyone can help me! im 17, 18 in just over a month and i would really love to have my ears pinned back as i hate my ears soooo much they stick out alot and im always moving my hair over them ive never had my hair up and were i work ill have to put my hair up when it gets long,its short at the moment and i would love to grow my hair long again but i dont want to put my hair up because of my ears.i just want to cut them off!!! and i always think people are looking at my ears when its windy outside and i was at work the other day and my ears were oking out n people kept looking at them and my friends even moved my hair back over them for me..i cant afford to have the op and it would help my self esteem sooo much if i was to have it dont.and i keep taking it out on my boyfriend because when he plays with my hair and he'll put it behind my ears i know he means well but it really bugs me..can i get it on the nhs??

Posted by James on 18/03/2010 at 02:59:44 pm

I had my ears pinned back a few months before i was 16, therefore it was free, but they bugged me ever since i was able to be annoyed by things, I can honestly say it had changed my life, i am never conscious about my ears anymore, the pain sticks around for a while, but if anyone is considering it, i recommend doing so.

Posted by Optional on 15/03/2010 at 09:52:37 am

i have recently had my ears pinned back

Posted by Dans on 20/02/2010 at 03:13:44 pm

its so embaressing have stick out ears..so i am one of them.. i want to make things but i cant cause of my ears..i am shy, and i hate my life.. i want to do the surgecy but i havent even talk about it to my parents.. 1 year more and then i will do it alone..

Posted by Optional on 16/02/2010 at 06:53:04 pm

Can anyone tell me more about the splints or tape used for babies ears. I am not sure as it if maybe one of my babies ears possibly could end up sticking out, how can I tell? and would tape on it's own work?

Posted by E on 06/01/2010 at 10:13:00 pm

Guys - sticky out ears are cool, I'm proud of mine and would never change them. Celebrate your uniqueness and individuality - consider them your 'special' feature - once you do, others will too!

Posted by Reply to ashamed on 05/01/2010 at 11:18:00 pm

Ashamed (the person with names that begin with j g.) Listen (no pun intended) my ears used to look likekate hudsons only twice the size when I was in year 8 a group of year sevens beat me up and I had to walk around on all fours like "the elephant that I was) one boy even rode me and used my dumbo ears as grips then when I was 15 my life changed around, my mum took me to a hairdressers to have my usual short back and sides which only accentuates the lugs, the usual lady who came by mobile was I'll. My mum asked for the grade 3 back and sides and grade 4 on top and the hairdresser gasped She then said that I should have my ears pinned back and I did! I now look human

Posted by charming on 05/01/2010 at 07:29:00 pm

damn well im 16 and my ear's stick out and people laff at me so i wear my hair down always ! :/

Posted by ashamed on 27/12/2009 at 09:29:00 pm

i have sticking out ears and people call me dumbo and big ears from noddy. i am only 14...i also have a sligt lisp only with my G's and J's and them letters are at the start of both of my names...i am half way through high school and people can be so mean... :'(

Posted by shorty12 on 13/12/2009 at 07:21:00 am

the surgery is the best solution for this problem, i think.. n if my son ever feels unconterble about his ears sticking out a lil (cuz i didn do any better at his birth in keep them back) i would go for the surgery for him..

Posted by shorty12 on 13/12/2009 at 07:08:00 am

my son was born with his ears bended from top to bottom of ear n got me worried when i first seen it. I thode it was a malformation or something, but the Dr. said it was ok just as long as i keep his ears taped back it will help in keeping his ears in the right possition. I thode tapping the ears back was kindoff **** so i only did it for like a week, n besides the tape wouldn stay there, so i stoped. So than i would lay him down on his sides with his ears straigh open in right possition n that helped. Even tho now that his about to be 7yrs his ears stick out just a lil, but they look ok. I think if they would of told me about somekind of kit (like Ear Buddies-splints) i would of use it instead of using "tape" OMG..

Posted by Dumbo on 01/09/2009 at 12:23:00 pm

My ears stick out but only abit. That would be my dream. however in reality they stick out 90 degrees and my hair is grade 4 haircut. So i look like dumbo. I have never had a girlfriend and once taped them back before asking someone out and they flicked out just after they said yes. Then she stared at them with disgust and everybody laughed at me. People pull my ears and shout comments at me if i walk past like "look at the size of his ears" "wingnut" "ginger big ears" "dumbo" "bugs bunny" the list is endless. how much is the operation because i need it i am a freak help. Also how much do you have to wear a headband? thx

Posted by Anonymous on 14/08/2009 at 06:20:00 am

I was born with one ear sticking out. Like cupping an ear to hear better, I hear very clearly, so well..I am musically talented. But this one ear has made me very shy all my life...I don't pin my hair back....I noticed in life, there are others exactly like me, with the one ear out and the other normal. There must be an explaination?

Posted by Anonymous on 29/07/2009 at 06:11:00 am

How much does the operation cost?

Posted by e i e i o on 26/06/2009 at 06:17:00 am

How much does this operation cost? And do you only have to wear the headband at night for the two weeks?

Posted by daniel on 28/05/2009 at 02:01:00 am

my ears stick out abit...but there nt that noticeable but my ears are big so the will be noticeable if i get my haircut very short? any suggestions?

Posted by Ellen on 30/03/2009 at 11:13:00 am

A good and non-invasive method is Dr. Merck Stitch Method. Website is http://www.merck-ecs.com

Posted by Anonymous on 07/01/2009 at 06:43:00 pm

my ears stick out so much and there so big. is the anything i can do something to stop it that wont be to noticable?

Posted by Jaime on 31/12/2008 at 01:12:00 am

I actually have a question! Are ears that stick out a dominant gene?