Otoplasty is a surgical procedure of the ears which corrects protruding ears by reshaping the pavilions considered excessively visible.

The surgery is typically performed on both ears, but sometimes it could be done on one ear.

An otoplasty refers to the correction of the abnormalities of the cartilage at the level of the pavilion of the ear and that are usually responsible for its "detached" appearance. We can schematically distinguish 3 types of deformities which are often linked to each other:

• Significant angulation between the pavilion of the ear and the skull achieving the real "detachment".
• Oversized conch cartilage (see diagram) which projects the ear forward and emphasizes the detached aspect (enlargement of the conch).
• A defect in the folding of the usual reliefs of the cartilage, which causes the pavilion of the ear to look too smooth, as if "unfolded" (defect in the folding of the antihelix).

Good candidates for otoplasty are adults, adolescents, and children above 7 years old.

This surgery is typically covered, at least partially, by health insurance, especially with children.