Otoplasty for Adults

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.

At Mobley MD, fully understanding your cosmetic surgery investment begins with recognizing our foundational principles: quality, safety, and transparent pricing. Dr. Mobley has dedicated his practice to providing exceptionally high-quality surgical experiences and superior results tailored specifically to your aesthetic goals.

The cost of your cosmetic surgery consists of three main elements: the surgeon’s fee, the facility fee, and the anesthesia fee. The exact surgeon’s fee will be clearly determined during a detailed consultation, where Dr. Mobley will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, carefully address your concerns, and outline a personalized surgical plan.

Dr. Mobley is nationally recognized for his expertise in otoplasty (cosmetic ear surgery), having extensively published and lectured on this procedure. He performs approximately 20 otoplasties annually—significantly more than the average aesthetic plastic surgeon—making him one of the most experienced otoplasty surgeons in the Intermountain West.

The starting cost for adult otoplasty at Mobley MD is around $8,000 & up, with the final amount influenced by the specific requirements of your procedure and the surgical setting chosen. After your consultation, you'll receive a clear, detailed quote designed specifically for your individualized surgical plan. Facility and anesthesia fees are time-dependent and may adjust based on the actual duration of your surgery.

Dr. Mobley wants to make cosmetic surgery available to as many people as possible. For that reason we have  partnered with CareCredit to provide lending services. When you come in for your consultation we will be more than happy to go over all your financial options with you.

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During the first week there will be some swelling and possibly some bruising in the upper forehead or upper eyelid region (click link for example image). Approximately one week after surgery, you’ll return to have any stitches removed. Most patients are completely ready to go back out in public 10-14 days after the operation.

For the first 1-3 days following your ear-pinning you will have a compressive wrap over your head and ears. This is then removed and an elastic compressive strap is gently warn over the top half of the ears for the first week following surgery. After one week, I encourage my patients to purchase a sports headband and to wear this around the ears at night and while sleeping for six weeks following surgery. Younger children and active adults are advised to avoid “horse-play” or sports that might lead to trauma to the ears for a few months following surgery.

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.

Most often, no. Otoplasty is a cosmetic operation and in the current era of healthcare, we have not found insurance companies working to cover this surgery. Otoplasty is a cosmetic operation and as such treated as a self-pay procedure. In cases of extremely malformed ears- see the lop ear section in the before and after gallery; some insurance companies may consider this medically necessary but in our experience this is a rare situation.

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.