How much does otoplasty cost?

Otoplasty at Me Clinic ranges from $7,000 to $14,000. Where an individual case falls within that range depends on the complexity of the correction, whether one or both ears are being operated on, the technique used, the anaesthetic required, and where the procedure is performed.

Because every patient's anatomy and requirements differ, a standardised price is not meaningful. An accurate quote is provided at consultation after examination.

What the quote includes

A surgical quote at Me Clinic includes fees for the surgeon, the assistant if one is required, the hospital or day facility, anaesthesia, recovery care and follow-up.

The headband supplied for post-operative support is provided as part of your care. Post-procedure check-ups are included in the price quoted at your initial consultation.

The consultation fee itself is separate and is due at the time of booking. As at September 2024 and including GST, a consultation with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon is $350.

What drives the price up or down

• One ear or both. Bilateral otoplasty is the more common presentation, but unilateral correction - after injury, or where only one ear protrudes - is a different operation with different theatre time.
• The technique. Cartilage can be scored and reshaped, folded and secured with permanent sutures, or partially excised. Some ears need a combination. More complex reshaping means longer theatre time.
• What is being corrected. Reducing protrusion is a different problem to reducing the overall size of the ear, reshaping a distorted or damaged ear, or correcting a previous otoplasty. Revision surgery on scarred cartilage is generally more difficult than a first operation.
• The anaesthetic. Otoplasty in adults is generally performed under local anaesthetic with light sedation. In children a general anaesthetic is usually required, which adds an anaesthetist's fee and a hospital admission. Anaesthetist fees are typically $800 to $1,200 per hour.
• The facility. Where the procedure requires a hospital rather than a day facility, theatre and hospital fees apply. Me Clinic's surgeons hold operating rights at several accredited private hospitals around Melbourne.

Medicare and private health insurance

Otoplasty performed purely to change appearance is not covered by Medicare. Where the procedure meets specific MBS criteria - for example correcting a significant deformity, or reconstruction after injury or disease - a Medicare item number may apply and a partial rebate may be available.

Whether your circumstances meet those criteria is a clinical judgement made by your surgeon at consultation, not something that can be determined from a website. A valid GP referral is required to access any rebate.

If you hold private health insurance, some hospital costs may be claimable where a Medicare item number applies and your policy covers it. Contact your insurer before the procedure to confirm what your policy covers and what waiting periods apply. Me Clinic is not a no-gap provider, so out-of-pocket costs will apply even where a rebate is available.

See does Medicare cover my surgery.

Payment terms

Your consultation fee is due at the time of booking. For major surgery, payment is due four weeks before the procedure date. Please read our Financial and Cancellation Policy and patient resources before booking.

Cost is not the only thing to compare

When comparing quotes between providers, check what each includes - some quote a surgeon's fee alone, others an inclusive figure. Ask specifically about anaesthetist fees, facility fees, follow-up appointments, garments or dressings, and what happens if a revision is needed. A lower headline number that excludes half those items is not a lower price.

Also check who is performing the surgery and what their registration says. Specialist Plastic Surgeon is a protected title in Australia, held by doctors who have completed surgical training and are Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. You can verify any practitioner's registration on the AHPRA public register.

What the procedure involves

An incision is made in the fold of skin behind the ear. The cartilage is then reshaped - in some cases remodelled by folding and stitching into position rather than removing cartilage. The operation generally takes one to two hours depending on complexity.

The ears are bandaged immediately afterwards. Bruising and swelling are common and usually settle within about seven days. Sutures are removed at seven to ten days or dissolve. A headband is worn continuously for one to two weeks, then at night only for a further four to eight weeks.

The procedure leaves a scar behind the ear, which usually fades over time but is permanent.

Surgery on children and young people

Otoplasty is often considered for children. In Australia, cosmetic surgery on patients under 18 carries additional legal requirements, including a mandatory assessment by a registered psychologist, psychiatrist or general practitioner, and a three-month cooling-off period between the assessment and the procedure. These safeguards exist because the decision belongs to the young person as well as the parents.

Ear cartilage is generally close to adult size by around five or six years of age, which is why surgery is not usually considered before then.

Risks

All surgical procedures carry risks and potential complications, including infection, bleeding and haematoma, permanent scarring behind the ear, asymmetry between the two ears, over-correction or under-correction, recurrence of protrusion as cartilage relaxes, changes in sensation of the ear, suture extrusion or visible sutures, allergic reaction, anaesthesia complications, and the possible need for revision surgery. A rare but serious complication is infection of the cartilage, which can cause permanent deformity.

Please read our information on the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery before proceeding.

Individual results may vary. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Related pages

See non-surgical ear correction, otoplasty before and after, pricing, or all face procedures.