Surgery that reshapes or repositions prominent ears closer to the head, commonly performed on children but equally effective in adults. Compare Chattanooga clinics below and request a free consultation.
$3,500–$8,000
per procedure · USD
A general range for Chattanooga, rounded for guidance. Confirm exact pricing with each clinic.
Plastic surgeons in Chattanooga who list otoplasty among their procedures. Tap any surgeon to view details and request a consultation.
Chattanooga
Financing available
Williams Plastic Surgery: Joel A Williams MD is a plastic surgery practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee, rated 4.8 stars across 123 Google reviews, performing 17 tracked procedures.
Chattanooga
Shire Facial Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee, rated 4.8 stars across 70 Google reviews, performing 11 tracked procedures.
Chattanooga
Financing available
Carey Nease, MD is a plastic surgery practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee, rated 5 stars across 45 Google reviews, performing 20 tracked procedures.
Surgery that reshapes or repositions prominent ears closer to the head, commonly performed on children but equally effective in adults.
One procedure, permanent
1 week off work or school, headband worn at night for several weeks
Children from about age five, once ear growth is largely complete, and adults of any age bothered by prominent or asymmetric ears
3 plastic surgery practices in the Chattanooga area list otoplasty. From Google Places listings; hours and locations change, so confirm with the practice.
What 3 Chattanooga practices that list otoplasty say on their own websites (checked September 2026); one that does not mention something may still offer it, so ask at your consultation.
Chattanooga-area otoplasty candidates should be in good health and not smoke (or at least quit for two weeks prior to surgery and for a short period following surgery).
Ear pinning surgery, or otoplasty, is usually done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. This is often performed on children after the age of 4.
This procedure corrects protruding ears by repositioning them closer to the head. It’s one of the most common forms of otoplasty and is often performed on both children and adults.
For the first several days, otoplasty patients should rest comfortably and keep the head elevated, avoiding any straining, bending or lifting until Dr. Williams has approved it.
An otoplasty, or ear pinning procedure, typically takes around two hours. During the procedure, Dr. Shire will suture or stitch the cartilage of your ears so they are held closer to your head and heal in the desired position.
Otoplasty generally runs $3,500–$8,000 per procedure, and each Chattanooga clinic sets its own price. The biggest variables are the provider's experience level and the specific device or product used. Newer technology and senior injectors price at the upper end. Pricing is quoted in US dollars (USD). Request a consultation from any of our listed Chattanooga clinics for a personalized quote.
Initial results in 2–4 weeks, with full results developing over 3 months as collagen builds. Chattanooga providers typically schedule follow-ups to track progress.
Results vary by patient, but most Chattanooga providers report 6–18 months of sustained benefit from a full Otoplasty series.
Ears reach close to adult size by about age five or six, which is when surgeons will typically consider it. Many families choose to do it before a child starts school, or early in school years if teasing has begun. There is no upper limit, and plenty of adults have it done having lived with prominent ears for decades. For children, most surgeons want the child to want it too, not just the parents.
Behind the ear, in the crease where the ear meets the head, which makes them essentially invisible in normal life. Some techniques use a small amount of cartilage scoring from the front, but the standard approach keeps everything behind. This is one of the few operations where scar placement is genuinely not a concern.
Sometimes for children, particularly when there is documented psychological impact from teasing, and policies vary widely. It is generally considered cosmetic for adults. It is worth having the surgeon's office check, because coverage for pediatric otoplasty is more common than people assume.
Partial relapse happens in a minority of cases, usually within the first year, and is more likely when the correction relied only on stitches rather than reshaping the cartilage itself. Wearing the protective headband as directed during early healing meaningfully reduces the risk. Revision is possible when relapse occurs.
For newborns in roughly the first few weeks of life, ear molding systems can reshape cartilage while it is still soft from maternal hormones, avoiding surgery entirely. That window is very short and closes within the first couple of months. After that, surgery is the option. Parents who notice prominent ears in a newborn should ask about molding immediately rather than waiting.
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