Service
Otoplasty (surgery for prominent ears)
Otoplasty corrects ears that stick out: the ear cartilage is shaped with stitches to create the fold that is missing, and the ear is brought closer to the head. The incision is behind the ear and cannot be seen.
I don't like my ears
Ears that stick out — in adults and in children. The ear has a fold of cartilage that holds it against the head; when that fold has not formed or the hollow of the ear is too deep, the ear stands away from the head. This is inherited and present from birth — ears do not grow “crooked” from sleeping or from wearing a hat. The size of the ear is most often normal: with prominent ears the problem is the shape, not the size.
How is it done?
Through an incision behind the ear the cartilage is reached, weakened and shaped with permanent stitches. Both ears are most often done in the same procedure, for symmetry.
After the procedure
A bandage is worn around the head for a few days, and then an elastic band over the ears at night for a few weeks, so that the ears do not fold over in sleep.
Earlobes
Oversized lobes are reduced, and a lobe split by an earring is stitched. It is done on its own or together with otoplasty.
In children
The ear reaches almost its final size by the age of six, so the operation is, as a rule, not done earlier. After that, age is not a limit; the decision depends on whether it bothers the child and whether the child wants the procedure. The operation is not suggested for a child who does not notice their ears and does not ask about them.
When a child starts hiding their ears with hair or a hat, or avoids the hairdresser, swimming or having photographs taken because of them, the procedure is worth discussing. At the examination we talk with the child too, not only with the parents. In children the procedure is done under general anaesthesia or under local anaesthesia with sedation.
When is the procedure not suitable?
It is postponed with active inflammation of the ear or of the skin behind the ear, and with frequent middle ear infections until they settle. With a tendency to keloid scars, the incision behind the ear can thicken — the area behind the ear is one of the few places on the body where this risk is higher — so we talk about it openly.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — asymmetry that needs correction, a stitch giving way with partial return, temporarily reduced sensation of the ear.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Otoplasty under local anaesthesia | €1,000–1,400 |
| Earlobe reduction, one ear | €300–500 |
| Correction of a split earlobe, one ear | €200–300 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
Can just one ear be operated on? Yes, when only one sticks out.
Does ear surgery hurt? The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, in children with sedation or under general anaesthesia, and does not hurt. For the first days the ears are tender and sore to the touch, which is managed with ordinary painkillers. What bothers people most is the pressure of the bandage.
When can a child go back to school? On average after a week, when the larger bandage is removed. The band over the ears is worn at night for a few more weeks. Ball sports and martial arts are avoided for six weeks to two months, as instructed by the doctor.
Can the ears stick out again? Rarely, but they can, especially if an ear is folded or hit in the first weeks. That is why the band is worn at night and you sleep on your back. If the cartilage partly returns, a small correction is possible.
Will the ears be symmetrical? The aim is for them to be similar, not identical. Natural ears differ from each other, so even after the procedure a small difference remains that others do not notice.
How long is the band worn after ear surgery? The larger bandage is removed at the follow-up visit after five to seven days. After that, the band over the ears is worn at night for a few more weeks, and you sleep on your back. In those weeks the cartilage is only just healing in its new shape, so folding or a blow can push it back towards the old position.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.