Otoplasty surgery is an operation to reshape the ear. A variety of different techniques and approaches may be used to reshape congenital prominence of the ears or to restore damaged ears. Most protruding ears are cause by a lack of development of the folds in the auricular cartilage. Most ears are of normal size but lack this defining fold in the ear cartilage.

Operations to reconstruct the shape of the ear involve placing permanent sutures into the ear cartilage to re-create this missing fold. Occasionally it is necessary to cut into the cartilage or to even remove a strip of cartilage in the reshaping process. The surgery is performed from the posterior side of the ear so that the scars are not visible. Each individual seeking otoplasty is unique both in terms of the appearance of the ears and their expectations for results following otoplasty surgery.