For years, you learn small habits without realizing it—tilting your head in photos, choosing hairstyles that hide instead of express, feeling a flicker of self consciousness every time someone looks too long.  Otoplasty doesn’t change who you are.  It simply removed the one thing that has been quietly distracting you from yourself.

Afterward, the mirror feels calmer.  Your face feels balanced.  You stop thinking about your ears–and that’s the magic.  You wear your hair the way you want.  You move through rooms without adjusting, without guarding.  The confidence doesn’t arrive loudly.  It settles in, gently, and stays.  

Otoplasty isn’t about becoming someone else.  It’s about finally letting go of something you carried longer than you needed to.  

Prominent or asymmetric ears can draw attention away from the rest of the face, especially in photos, school settings, or social situations. Children may feel self-conscious on the playground or in the classroom; teens and adults may avoid certain hairstyles, hats, or pulled-back looks because they feel their ears stand out more than they would like.

Otoplasty—often called ear pinning surgery—is a precise procedure that reshapes and repositions the ears so they sit closer to the head, with natural curves and proportion. The goal is not to make the ears disappear, but to bring them into balance with the face so that they quietly complement your appearance instead of dominating it.

At Bruno Plastic Surgery in Scranton, otoplasty is approached with the philosophy of Enhancing Your Natural Beauty. Small, thoughtful changes in ear shape and position can lead to a meaningful increase in comfort, confidence, and ease in daily life.

Meet Anthony D. Bruno, II, M.D.

Otoplasty is a structural procedure. Cartilage must be reshaped, folds recreated, and symmetry improved—often in a patient who has been thinking about this one feature for years. The details matter.

Anthony D. Bruno, II, M.D. is double board certified in general surgery and plastic surgery. His training includes:

– Six years of general surgery residency

– Successful completion of the general surgery board examination

– Three additional years of plastic surgery training at Duke, one of the premier plastic surgery programs in the country, which accepts only surgeons who have completed a full general surgery residency

This extensive pathway—general surgery, general surgery board certification, and advanced plastic surgery training—provides a deep foundation in anatomy, tissue handling, and surgical judgment. Those skills are essential when working with ear cartilage, where precision and symmetry are critical to a natural-looking result.

Patients across Northeast Pennsylvania often express their confidence in Dr. Bruno’s surgical precision and unparalleled results with the hashtag “Only Dr. Bruno”, reflecting long-term trust in his meticulous, patient-centered approach.

What Otoplasty Can Improve

Otoplasty focuses on the outer ear (the auricle), not hearing. It can address:

– Ears that stick out farther from the head than you would like

– A lack of normal folds, causing a “smooth” or overly open ear shape

– Very large conchal bowls (the central, cupped part of the ear) that push the ear forward

– Asymmetry between the right and left ears in position or shape

– Ears that draw unwanted attention in photos or certain hairstyles

The goal is to recreate a natural, three-dimensional ear with defined folds and a more refined position—never a flat, “pasted back” appearance.

Who Is a Candidate for Otoplasty?

Otoplasty can be appropriate for:

– Children whose ears have reached near-adult size (often around age 5–7) and who are emotionally mature enough to participate in the decision

– Teens who are bothered by comments from peers or how their ears look in photos

– Adults who have been self-conscious about ear prominence for years and are ready to address it.  No age is too old.  

Ideal candidates:

– Are in good overall health

– Have realistic expectations about improvement and symmetry

– Understand that the goal is balance, not absolute “perfection”

– Can follow postoperative instructions and protect the ears during healing

For children, it is especially important that they want the surgery themselves, rather than feeling pressured. A child who is engaged and cooperative with care typically has a more comfortable experience.

Benefits of Otoplasty

Patients and parents often describe otoplasty as quietly life-changing. Benefits can include:

– Ears that sit closer to the head with natural curves

– Improved balance between the ears and the rest of the face

– More flexibility with hairstyles, hats, and headbands

– Less self-consciousness in school, sports, or professional settings

– A sense of relief after addressing a long-standing concern

While no procedure can guarantee a particular emotional response, many patients report feeling more relaxed and confident in photos and daily interactions once their ears no longer dominate their appearance.