Otoplasty in Turkey: techniques, relapse rates and recovery

Otoplasty (also called pinnaplasty, or ear pinning) is a short operation, usually done through a cut behind the ear, that reshapes the ear cartilage so the ear sits closer to the head. It is one of the smaller cosmetic operations, and it can be done under local anaesthetic. The recovery is less compact: the ears need protecting for weeks, and the most commonly reported problem is the ear sticking out again.

What the operation involves

The NHS describes a standard otoplasty in an older child or adult as a small cut behind the ear to expose the cartilage, removing small pieces of cartilage if necessary, and stitches at the back of the ear to reshape it or hold it closer to the head. It usually takes one to two hours. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) explains that prominent ears often lack a normal fold, and the operation adjusts the cartilage to create the missing folds. Because the cut is behind the ear, the scar sits close to the groove between the ear and the head.

Surgeons broadly combine two approaches:

• Suture-based (cartilage-sparing) techniques fold and hold the cartilage with permanent stitches, without cutting through it.
• Cartilage-cutting or scoring techniques weaken or cut the front or back of the cartilage so it bends more easily into its new shape. These are often combined with stitches.

The NHS also describes an incisionless technique, in which a needle is used to make the cartilage more flexible and stitches hold the new shape without a skin cut. BAAPS notes that a large earlobe may need a small separate reduction. More than 200 otoplasty methods have been described, so ask exactly which technique is planned for you, and why.

What the research reports about complications and relapse

The largest pooled estimate we found is a systematic review by Sadhra, Motahariasl and Hardwicke (Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2017). It covered 28 studies and 3,493 patients published between 2000 and 2015. Pooled across all techniques, it reported:

Outcome	Pooled incidence
Revision surgery or recurrence	5%
Skin or wound-healing problems	3%
Haematoma and/or bleeding	2.5%
Suture-related problems	1.8%
Scarring	1.6%
Infection	0.8%
Pain and itching	13%

The authors also note how widely individual studies vary. Reported haematoma rates range from 0% to 15.6% and infection rates from 0% to 10%. Pooled figures describe the published literature. They do not predict the result of any one surgeon or clinic.

A 2024 meta-analysis by Alanazi (Journal of Craniofacial Surgery) looked only at cartilage-sparing otoplasty, across 14 studies. Recurrence or reoperation was again the most common complication, at about 4.3%. Suture erosion (stitches working through the skin) followed at about 2.5%, then haematoma or bleeding at about 1.3%. Where studies compared cartilage-sparing with cartilage-scoring techniques, the review found no significant difference in recurrence or reoperation, haematoma or wound infection. It also flagged significant differences between studies for some outcomes. Keloid formation and skin necrosis were among the complications reported.

A 2026 systematic review of techniques by Thomson, Gosden and Mandal (JPRAS Open) included 22 studies: 19 retrospective and three prospective cohort studies. It found that hybrid methods may be associated with lower rates of recurrence and reoperation than single-technique approaches. These hybrids combined stitches with cartilage scoring, or scoring with a flap. The authors are explicit that high-quality, long-term randomised trials are still needed to show which technique is superior.

BAAPS puts the risks in plainer terms. In approximately 3% of patients the scars can become thick and red and may need further treatment. There is a small risk the repair does not hold, and a minor adjustment operation is occasionally needed. The NHS lists inflammation of the ear cartilage, a blood clot in the skin of the ear, stiff ears, asymmetry, and the ears starting to protrude again, plus the general risks of bleeding, infection and anaesthetic reaction.

Recovery, and how it fits around a trip

The NHS timeline is useful for planning:

• 5 to 10 days: bandage (if used) and stitches removed, unless the stitches dissolve.
• Several weeks: a headband worn at night to protect the ears while you sleep. Ears often sore, tender, numb or tingling. Bruising for about two weeks.
• 4 to 6 weeks: swimming usually OK.
• Around 8 weeks: contact sports usually OK.

BAAPS adds two points. The headband stops the ears being bent forward against the pillow. The grooves behind the ears need keeping clean. It also warns that some painkillers can occasionally cause unwanted bleeding; ask your surgeon which are suitable for you.

For travel, this means the stitch-removal and wound-check stage falls around one to ten days after surgery. Either you stay for it, or you arrange before you book who will do it at home. A haematoma needs prompt attention. Ask the clinic what they want you to do if an ear becomes suddenly more painful or swollen after you have flown home. Our guide to aftercare after treatment abroad covers how to arrange follow-up with your own GP or a local surgeon.

Local or general anaesthetic

The NHS says an otoplasty in an older child or adult can be done under local anaesthetic, and that with local anaesthetic you will usually go home the same day. BAAPS says either local or general anaesthetic can be used in teenagers and adults, while young children usually need a general anaesthetic. If general anaesthetic is proposed, ask who gives it, where you will recover and when you will be cleared to leave. Whether you are fit to fly on a particular day is for the operating team to decide after examining you.

Children and teenagers

Both sources address age. The NHS says ear pinning is not suitable for children under 5, because their ears are still growing and the cartilage is too soft to hold the stitches. BAAPS also says it is best to operate from age 5. It advises waiting until the child recognises the problem and wants the correction, because children who understand why are generally more co-operative and happier with the outcome. Both note that splinting in early infancy can reshape a baby's ear without surgery.

Taking a minor abroad for an elective operation raises extra questions about consent, anaesthetic and aftercare. Those decisions belong with a clinician who has examined the child. Discuss them with your GP or a UK specialist before you consider any overseas quote.

Who performs it, and how to check

The NHS says otoplasty can be done by a plastic surgeon or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon. In Türkiye, check that the named surgeon is a registered doctor in the relevant specialty, not only that the clinic is. Our guide to checking a doctor in Türkiye explains how. Separately, you can check whether the facility holds the Ministry of Health's health tourism authorisation. The live list of facilities that declared otoplasty shows which ones do. If a clinic is missing, it may be listed under a different legal name or spelling, so absence alone does not prove it is unlicensed. See also our plastic surgery in Türkiye guide.

What to get in writing before you pay

• The name and specialty of the surgeon who will operate, and confirmation that they will do the operation themselves.
• The technique planned for each ear (suture-based, scoring, a combination, or incisionless), and whether an earlobe reduction is included.
• The type of anaesthetic, who gives it, and whether you go home the same day.
• Whether the stitches dissolve. If not, who removes them, when, and where.
• What dressing and headband you will be given, and for how long you should wear them.
• What happens if the ear protrudes again, stitches come through the skin, or a scar thickens. Who pays for a revision, and would you have to travel back for it?
• A contact number for problems after you are home, and what the clinic will send your own doctor.

On cost, we do not publish prices. A quote is only comparable if it itemises the operation, anaesthetic, dressings, follow-up visits and any revision policy. See what a treatment quote should include and the questions to ask before paying a deposit. Whether otoplasty is right for your ears, and which technique suits them, is a decision for a qualified surgeon who has examined you.