Ear Surgery Los Angeles

Well-formed, proportionate ears are a key part of facial balance, ensuring your features feel aligned with the rest of your body. Dr. Teitelbaum’s ear surgery in Los Angeles can correct deformities, refine ear shape, and improve ear positioning for a beautiful, natural look.

What Is Ear Surgery?

Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes overly prominent ears, bringing them closer to the head or improving their overall appearance. This procedure can be performed on children and adults, helping patients of all ages resolve ear-related insecurities. Often, patients seek out an otoplasty to address one of the following concerns:

The bowl-shaped part of the ear, or concha, is too large and pushes the ear outward
The folds along the ear’s edge are too soft, preventing the ear from curving back

Dr. Teitelbaum will customize your procedure to achieve your exact goals, ensuring subtle enhancements with major impact.

Creating a More Proportionate Profile

Though ear surgery is a short, subtle procedure, the results can dramatically transform your appearance and quality of life. Patients come to Dr. Teitelbaum seeking the following otoplasty benefits:

Improved facial symmetry
More natural-looking ear position and shape
Increased confidence and self-esteem
Ability to comfortably wear your hair short or pulled back
Better balance between your face and neck
Reduction or prevention of teasing for child patients

Are You a Good Candidate for Ear Surgery?

Ideal adult candidates for ear surgery in Los Angeles are healthy, non-smoking patients with prominent ears that protrude from the head. Children must be at least 5 years old to receive an otoplasty. During your consultation, Dr. Teitelbaum will perform a physical exam to confirm your or your child’s candidacy.

Before & After Ears (Otoplasty)

Patient 106041428 | Front View | After | Ears (Otoplasty) — Steven Teitelbaum MD - Santa Monica

Patient 106041429 | Front View | After | Ears (Otoplasty) — Steven Teitelbaum MD - Santa Monica

Patient 106041430 | Front View | After | Ears (Otoplasty) — Steven Teitelbaum MD - Santa Monica

Patient 106041431 | Front View | After | Ears (Otoplasty) — Steven Teitelbaum MD - Santa Monica

Patient 106041432 | Front View | After | Ears (Otoplasty) — Steven Teitelbaum MD - Santa Monica

Patient 106041433 | Front View | After | Ears (Otoplasty) — Steven Teitelbaum MD - Santa Monica

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Why Choose Dr. Teitelbaum?

When performing an otoplasty, Dr. Teitelbaum takes an anatomy-first approach to ensure the ears protrude from the face at an optimal distance, avoiding flattened or abnormal-looking results. He uses an artistic eye to judge how the ears frame the face, helping you achieve a balanced, beautiful profile.

Academic and Clinical Excellence

Prior to opening his private practice in 1995, Dr. Teitelbaum received his doctorate from the UCLA School of Medicine and completed his residency at Harvard University, earning him a double board certification in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. Outside of caring for patients, he serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine, reflecting his commitment to advancing the next generation of surgeons. Dr. Teitelbaum has taken his advanced expertise and cutting-edge techniques worldwide, delivering lectures on five continents and sharing his knowledge with peers and students alike. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals like Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, and he’s earned leadership positions in the following professional organizations:

Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, 2016-2017 President
California Society of Plastic Surgeons, Treasurer and Legislative Committee Chair
Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, Board Member

Putting Patients First

As a patient, you’ll feel Dr. Teitelbaum’s passion for plastic surgery and thoughtful care from the moment you walk into his Los Angeles practice. His focus is on bringing your vision for yourself to life without gimmicks or trendy treatments, ensuring long-lasting, beautiful results.

Schedule A Consultation

(310) 315-1121 Contact Us

Your Private Consultation

Your journey with Dr. Teitelbaum will begin with a one-on-one consultation at his Los Angeles office. There, you’ll discuss your aesthetic goals, concerns, and medical history, and he’ll evaluate your ear cartilage, structure, and health to determine if an otoplasty is right for you.

He may order specific tests to rule out underlying medical issues in your ears, such as an infection.

Pricing Your Procedure

After your consultation, Dr. Teitelbaum’s team will share a complete cost breakdown and extensive financing options for total transparency.

The cost of your ear surgery in Los Angeles will depend on the following factors:

Surgical complexity
Extent of correction
Whether one or both ears will be addressed
Whether additional procedures will be performed in the same surgical session

What to Expect From Your Ear Surgery in Los Angeles

As an adult, your otoplasty will be performed under local anesthesia with sedation at Dr. Teitelbaum’s private, accredited Santa Monica surgical center. During the procedure, he’ll make discreet incisions either behind the ear or inside the ear canal to access the tissue.

Then, Dr. Teitelbaum will carefully reshape the ear cartilage, adjusting the ear’s position to create a more natural-looking, harmonious appearance.

Once complete, your incisions will be closed with small sutures to promote smooth, minimally visible scars. The procedure typically takes two hours or less, and you’ll be able to head home the same day.

Gentle, High-Touch Recovery

Recovery after ear surgery typically involves mild discomfort, swelling, or tenderness in the ears, which should resolve within one week. You may need to wear a protective dressing or headband to support your ears and reduce swelling. Most patients return to work within five to seven days, but you’ll need to avoid wearing items like over-ear headphones and earmuffs for a few weeks while you heal.

After your procedure, you’ll receive extensive aftercare instructions from Dr. Teitelbaum and his team. This list may include the following items:

Incision site care and cleaning protocols
Supportive garment guidance
Hygiene recommendations
Earwear to avoid, and for how long
Activity limitations
Sleep position restrictions
Swelling and pain management strategies

Over the coming weeks, you’ll return to Dr. Teitelbaum’s office for several follow-up appointments with his team. There, he’ll remove any remaining sutures, monitor your healing progress, and approve your return to potentially high-impact activities such as contact sports, strenuous exercise, and swimming. Your final results will become apparent as residual swelling fades, which may take several weeks.

Ear Surgery for Children

Otoplasties are among the few surgeries that can safely be performed on children, since the ears reach their final shape around age 5. Most parents explore ear surgery for their children to prevent or stop bullying or teasing at school. By addressing prominent ears early, an otoplasty can help children avoid emotional distress and prevent long-lasting insecurities.

Since ear cartilage is still flexible at this age, ear surgery is more straightforward for children and offers permanent results. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia for your child’s comfort, and they’ll be able to return to school within a few days.

Completing Your Transformation

Many of Dr. Teitelbaum’s patients in Los Angeles and Santa Monica incorporate ear surgery into a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan. Complementary procedures include the following:

Ear Surgery FAQs

Will my hearing be affected by an otoplasty?

No. Otoplasties focus on the external structures of the ear, avoiding the inner ear and eardrum entirely.

What is the ideal age for an otoplasty in children?

The ideal age for ear surgery in childhood is around 5 years old, when the ear has stopped growing and reached its full size. If your child isn’t ready for surgery, they do not have to receive an otoplasty that young. A youth otoplasty can be performed at any age between 5 and 18.

Can an otoplasty be combined with other procedures?

Yes. Ear surgery is often performed in conjunction with other facial procedures to create a more balanced facial appearance.

References

Steven Teitelbaum, Enthusiasm Versus Data: How Does an Aesthetic Procedure Become “Hot”?, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2006, Pages 51–53.
Steven Teitelbaum, John Diaz, Robert Singer, Can Outpatient Plastic Surgery Be Done Safely During a COVID-19 Surge? Results of a July 2020 Los Angeles Survey and Literature Review, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 41, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 98–108.