FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Otoplasty (ear pinning) Surgery

What Does Otoplasty Surgery Involve?

How Much Does Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) Normally Cost?

What Financing Options Are Available?

How Long Is The Recovery Period?

When Can I Return To School Or Work?

Does Inusrance Ever Cover Otoplasty Surgery?

What Are The Common Risks?

An incision is made behind the ear in the natural crease where the ear and head join. The skin is loosened from the cartilage of the ear. The cartilage is often reshaped with stitches to give a more natural look to the ear. I tend to avoid placing cuts in the ear cartilage, as I think this results in an unnatural shape. In fact, I have published an instructional article on my otoplasty techniques in a national surgical journal. This article can be made available to patients, although it is intended for a medical audience.

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To fully understand the costs of cosmetic surgery, you must understand the guiding principles of Dr. Mobley’s medical practice: Quality, Safety, and a Respect for Cost. Dr. Mobley has not designed the surgical experience to be lowest bid; rather, he wants you to have an exceptionally high-quality medical experience. If this interests you, please read on.

There are three main components that contribute to your final cosmetic surgery fee. The first component is the surgeon's fee. As this is a medical experience, your final surgeon's fee can only determined after a full consultation with a Dr. Mobley where he will perform a complete history andphysical exam and together you will formulate a treatment plan that best fits your cosmetic goals.

As a reference point, a recent survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed the average professional fee of otoplasty to be $3340. Dr. Mobley's professional fee will tend to be close to this national average. Remember that Dr. Mobley has written and lectured extensively and nationally on the topic of otoplasty. When you choose Dr. Mobley you are choosing one of the more experienced otoplasty surgeons in the Mountain West. Dr. Mobley has also dedicated his time to create The Mobley Foundation for Charitable Surgery – a non-profit organization to help pay for otoplasty surgery for children who are being bullied or teased for having larger ears butwhose families could otherwise not afford the operation.

The second cost component is the facility in which your operation is performed. Dr. Mobley operates exclusively in a state of the art surgical center - not in a in-office surgical room. This surgical center isJCAHO certified, which means it has passed the highest level of federal inspection. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and Dr. Mobley strongly believe that having it performed in a JCAHO certified center is in your best medical interest. Learn more about this surgical center here.

The final cost component is the anesthesia fee. The training background of the person ultimately responsible for your sedation should becarefully considered; but many patients do not put much emphasis on this. Nurse anesthetists are members of the surgical team; however, in every cosmetic operation Dr. Mobley performs, a Board-Certified M.D. anesthesiologist who has completed medical school, residency, and board certification is responsible for your sedation. This is the level of care Dr. Mobley would insist on for one of his own family members.

The average facility and anesthesia fees tend to run from $2200 to $2600.

After your consultation you will leave the office with an easy to understand written quote in which we will list the cost of these three components for your individualized surgical plan. Keep in mind that the facility and anesthesia fees are time-based and so may be increased, or decreased, based on the actual final length of your cosmetic surgery.

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Dr. Mobley wants to make cosmetic surgery available to as many people as possible. For that reason we have hand picked lending services exclusively for Dr. Mobley's patients. When you come in for your consultation we will be more than happy to go over all your financial options with you. We have provided web links to our financial lenders so that you may research them on your own if you so desire. www.mlendfinance.com

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For one week following the operation, you will wear a protective dressing over your ear(s) to protect the delicate stitches placed during the operation. After one week, I will see you back in the office and remove any stitches that were placed. I encourage my patients to purchase a sports headband and to wear this around the ears at night and while sleeping for four to six weeks following surgery.

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If absolutely necessary, you could return to work three to four days after the operation. Because of the protective ear dressing placed during surgery, most patients arrange to have one week off from work or school.
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In some situations, particularly for young children, insurance companies may view otoplasty as covered under your policy. Our staff can help you determine this before surgery. If not covered by your insurance carrier, payments can be made prior to surgery.

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Every type of surgery has risks. It’s my ethical responsibility to educate you on these risks so you can make the best possible decision for yourself while weighing these risks against the benefits of surgery. My training helps me to minimize these risks to the best of my ability, but I cannot eliminate them entirely.

Common risks include infection of stitches. Corrected ears may relax over the first month or two following surgery, so I often over-correct them slightly during surgery.

The risks above are the most common ones that I think you should be aware of, but they are not a complete list of all possible risks. When I see you in consultation and we begin to formulate your surgical treatment plan, I’ll review with you not only these common risks but also the less likely complications that may occur.

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