Dr. Hootan Daneshmand
Ear Pinning Orange County, Newport Beach & Bakersfield
Ear Pinning for Protruding Ears
Ear pinning surgery sets protruding ears closer to the head by reshaping the cartilage that controls how far each ear projects. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hootan Daneshmand performs ear pinning for children, teens, and adults in Orange County, Newport Beach, and Bakersfield. He places the incisions in the natural crease behind each ear.
Since 1991, Dr. D has volunteered with Rotaplast International, treating congenital defects in children in Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico, and Venezuela. During his plastic surgery training, he served a full year as Chief Resident supervising the Cosmetic Clinic. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the gold standard credential in the specialty.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
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Orange County
Foothill Ranch
27462 Portola Pkwy, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 Call Now -
Orange County
Newport Beach
351 Hospital Rd, Ste. 604, Newport Beach, CA 92663 Call Now -
Kern County
Bakersfield
1801 16th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301 Call Now
What Is Ear Pinning Surgery?
Ear pinning surgery, also called ear setback or pinnaplasty, is a form of otoplasty focused on one goal: reducing how far the ears stick out. Ear reduction and reconstruction change the ear’s size or structure. Ear pinning leaves the overall size alone and changes only the ear’s fold, angle, and position against the head.
An American Society of Plastic Surgeons article on ear pinning notes that a typical ear projects about 15 degrees, or 1.5 cm, from the side of the head. The outer rim should also be visible from the front. Ears that sit well beyond that range, or that differ noticeably from each other, are the ones ear pinning corrects.
What Causes Protruding Ears?
Most protruding ears come from cartilage shape, not ear size. About 5% of people have prominent ears, according to a 2023 study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. A common cause is an underdeveloped or absent antihelical fold, the Y-shaped ridge inside the ear that normally holds the upper rim back.
Two other structures also push ears outward. A deep conchal bowl, the cup of cartilage around the ear canal, can tilt the whole ear forward. A prominent earlobe can flare the lower third. Many patients have a combination of these, so Dr. Daneshmand evaluates each part of the ear before choosing a technique.
Who Is a Candidate for Ear Pinning?
Good ear pinning candidates are healthy, are bothered by protruding or uneven ears, and want a natural-looking result. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons candidacy guidelines add two criteria by age group. Children should be free of untreated chronic ear infections, and teens and adults should be nonsmokers.
Ear Pinning for Children
Children can have ear pinning once their ear cartilage is stable enough for correction. The ASPS places that point at generally 5 years old. Good pediatric candidates also follow instructions well, can communicate their feelings, and do not voice objections when surgery is discussed. Those traits make headband wear and activity limits easier to manage.
Ear Pinning for Teens & Adults
Teens and adults are good ear pinning candidates when they are healthy, do not smoke, and have no medical conditions that impair healing. Adult cartilage is firmer than a child’s. For that reason, Dr. Daneshmand may combine sutures with cartilage scoring so the ear holds its new position under less tension.
Adults can also pair ear pinning with other facial procedures and go through a single recovery. Rhinoplasty and chin implants both change facial proportion. Correcting the ears at the same time lets the full profile be planned together. The facial procedures Dr. D offers can be discussed in the same consultation.
Ear Pinning Techniques
Dr. Daneshmand chooses ear pinning techniques based on which structure causes the protrusion, and most patients need more than one. A 2026 systematic review in JPRAS Open compared approaches. It found that hybrids, either sutures with cartilage scoring or scoring with a tissue flap, may have lower recurrence and reoperation rates than single-technique methods.
Antihelical Fold Sutures
Antihelical fold sutures recreate the missing Y-shaped ridge using permanent stitches placed through the back of the ear cartilage. This approach, known as the Mustardé technique, folds the upper ear back without cutting through the cartilage. That keeps the new contour soft and rounded rather than sharp or pinched.
Conchal Setback
A conchal setback brings a deep conchal bowl closer to the head by suturing it to the tissue over the bone behind the ear. This is known as the Furnas technique. When sutures alone cannot reduce the bowl enough, a small crescent of cartilage can be removed from its rim to make the cup shallower.
Cartilage Scoring
Cartilage scoring places fine, controlled marks on the front surface of stiff cartilage so it bends toward the head more easily. Scoring is most useful for the firmer cartilage common in teens and adults, where sutures alone carry more tension. Combining scoring with sutures is one of the hybrid approaches the 2026 review favored.
Earlobe Repositioning
Earlobe repositioning corrects a lobe that still flares outward after the upper and middle ear are set back. Either a small wedge of skin behind the lobe is trimmed or the lobe is anchored with a suture. Both methods make the bottom third of the ear line up with the corrected upper two thirds.
The Ear Pinning Procedure
Ear pinning is an outpatient procedure, so patients go home the same day. Children typically receive general anesthesia. Teens and adults may have local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on health and the amount of correction planned. Dr. Daneshmand confirms the anesthesia plan with each patient during the consultation.
Dr. Daneshmand works through an incision in the crease behind the ear, where the scar stays concealed in the natural fold. He then performs the suture, setback, or scoring steps mapped out beforehand. Both ears are compared for symmetry before the incisions are closed. Finally, a soft dressing wraps the head to support the new position during early healing.
Ear Pinning Recovery
Ear pinning recovery centers on protecting the cartilage while it sets in its new position. Swelling, bruising, tenderness, and temporary numbness are normal, and one ear may swell more than the other. Keeping the head elevated during sleep and avoiding pressure on the ears both help limit early swelling.
After the bulky dressing comes off, patients wear a soft headband for as long as Dr. Daneshmand specifies, especially overnight, so a pillow cannot fold the ear forward. Children should avoid contact sports and rough play until cleared. Adults should avoid helmets, tight hats, and anything else that presses on the incisions.
Nicotine narrows blood flow and can delay healing in the thin skin behind the ear, so patients stop smoking and vaping before surgery and through recovery. Dr. Daneshmand sets each patient’s timeline for stopping nicotine, returning to school or work, and resuming exercise based on the techniques used.
Ear Pinning Results & Risks
Ear pinning results are visible once the dressing comes off, though swelling hides the final shape for several weeks and scars continue to fade over the following months. Patient testimonials describe the experience of working with Dr. D and the Silhouette team.
Ear pinning is durable, but the result is not guaranteed to stay unchanged. Recognized risks include partial return of protrusion, sutures working through the skin, asymmetry, overcorrection that flattens the ear, bleeding, infection, and thickened scars. Revision surgery can address many of these risks, and matching the technique to the ear’s anatomy may lower the chance of recurrence.
Ear Pinning Cost in California
Ear pinning cost depends on four factors: whether one or both ears are corrected, the techniques required, the type of anesthesia, and facility fees. Each plan is built around your ear anatomy, so Silhouette provides an itemized quote after your consultation with Dr. Daneshmand.
Ear Pinning vs. Other Ear Surgery
Ear pinning changes where the ear sits, not how big it is. Ears that are too large, too small, or shaped differently from birth need ear reduction, augmentation, or reconstruction instead. Those procedures fall under broader otoplasty, along with ear-fold implants. Dr. Daneshmand determines which procedure fits your ears during the consultation.
Schedule a Consultation For Ear Pinning in Orange County, Bakersfield, or Newport Beach
Schedule an ear pinning consultation with Dr. Daneshmand at the Silhouette office nearest you in Foothill Ranch, Newport Beach, or Bakersfield. Bring any questions about your child’s readiness, a list of current medications, and your goals for your ears. Book your free consultation online or call the office of your choice.