Procedures · Aesthetic Facial Surgery

Otoplasty in Jeddah

Medically reviewed by Dr. Khalid Almutairi, Consultant Plastic Surgeon — last reviewed 2026-08-10

Prominent ears are not a medical defect, but they draw attention in every photograph and from every angle, which is why they matter to a child and their family. Correction reshapes cartilage that is already present and complete: it folds the antihelix that did not form, and brings the ear closer to the head at a natural angle — it does not make the ear smaller and it does not change hearing.

Care is led by Dr. Khalid Almutairi, a consultant plastic surgeon who is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and fellowship trained in hand surgery and microsurgery in Canada and the USA.

What the operation actually corrects

Prominence usually arises from one of two mechanisms, or both together: an upper cartilage fold that never formed sufficiently, or a conchal bowl deep enough to push the ear away from the head. Each is addressed differently — the first by recreating the fold with calculated sutures or scoring, the second by reducing or setting back the bowl. Planning therefore begins with an examination that identifies which mechanism is responsible, not with a predetermined technique.

What otoplasty does not do

It does not change hearing, and it does not meaningfully reduce the size of the ear; the goal is position, fold and relative symmetry, not size. A corrected ear remains a real ear with natural variation: perfect symmetry between two ears does not exist in unoperated faces either, and it is not promised after surgery.

This is not the right operation for every difference in ear shape

A fully formed but prominent ear is one thing; congenital differences in the shape of the ear are another — a rim curled inward, an upper part buried under skin, or an ear that did not form at all. These are not treated with the prominent-ear technique and follow a different pathway. The common error is to call them all “prominent ears” and treat them the same way.

Timing in children

Timing balances the ear's growth to near its adult size, the child's psychological readiness, and school considerations. No single age suits every child, and timing is agreed with the family after assessment. In the first weeks of life specifically, some shape differences respond to external moulding with splints and no surgery at all — a short window that rewards an early consultation.

Anaesthesia

In adults, otoplasty can be performed under local anaesthesia in selected cases, and this is discussed as an option rather than a rule. In children, general anaesthesia is usually preferred for stillness and comfort, decided together with the anaesthetist after assessment.

Recovery

The ear is protected with a dressing and then a night headband for a period set by the procedure, with instructions to shield it from pressure and rubbing during sleep and play. Most patients return to school or work within days to two weeks depending on the procedure, with contact sports deferred longer. Mild swelling and temporary altered sensation in the ear are expected in the first weeks.

Limitations and risks

Complete symmetry between the ears, or a specific result, cannot be guaranteed. Risks include asymmetry, partial recurrence of prominence over time, visible cartilage edges or palpable sutures beneath the skin, scar problems behind the ear including hypertrophic scarring or keloid in those predisposed, infection, haematoma, rarely cartilage exposure, and the need for later revision in some cases. The risks relevant to your ear — or your child's — are explained before any decision.

Can the ears become prominent again years later?

Partial relapse can occur, particularly where correction relies on sutures alone in cartilage with strong spring. For that reason the correction is built around the mechanism causing the prominence rather than on sutures alone, and the shape is followed through the first months.

Is the scar visible?

The incision is usually placed behind the ear within the natural crease, where it stays hidden in the normal position of the head. Scars take months to mature, and aftercare instructions are given according to skin type.

Medical notice

This is general information and does not replace consultation and examination. Every case is assessed individually, and the appropriate pathway, its timing and where it is performed are determined by the case and the requirements of the medical facility.