Otoplasty in Medellín: What International Patients Should Know About Ear Surgery

Ear surgery is one of the smaller operations in plastic surgery, which is exactly why it tempts people to treat it casually. A short procedure, small incisions hidden behind the ear, a few days in bandages: it sounds like something you could slot into a long weekend in Medellín. The surgery may be modest in scale, but the planning still deserves care, because a result you dislike on your ears is very hard to hide.

What otoplasty changes, and what it does not

Mayo Clinic defines otoplasty as surgery to change the shape, position or size of the ears. People seek it when their ears stick out too far from the head, look large relative to the head, have been changed by injury or a birth difference, or when an earlier ear surgery left a result they are unhappy with (Mayo Clinic, accessed 2026).

Two points from the same source are worth knowing before you start messaging clinics. First, both ears are usually treated, even if one bothers you more, so the pair looks balanced. Second, otoplasty does not change where the ears sit on the head, and it does not affect hearing. If what bothers you is ear height or hearing, this operation is not the answer.

Common names you will see in Medellín

• Otoplastia: the general Spanish term on clinic websites and quotes.
• Orejas prominentes or orejas en asa: colloquial descriptions of protruding ears.
• Pinning back or ear pinning: the English shorthand, usually meaning reducing how far the ears stand out.

How the surgery is usually done

Mayo Clinic describes otoplasty as taking place in a hospital or surgical center under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The incisions usually run behind the ear or inside its natural folds so the scars are hidden. Depending on the problem, the surgeon may remove extra cartilage and skin, then fold the cartilage into a new position and secure it with internal stitches. The operation typically takes about one to two hours (Mayo Clinic, accessed 2026).

In practice, "ear surgery" covers several different problems. An ear that protrudes because a natural fold never formed is a different job from an ear with an oversized bowl of cartilage, which in turn is different from a lobe that is too large or was torn by an earring. Ask the surgeon to name what they see in your ears and what they plan to change. A vague "we'll pin them back" is not enough detail for an operation you are flying to another country for.

Risks to discuss before you commit

Mayo Clinic lists the general risks of any surgery, such as bleeding, blood clots, infection and reactions to anesthesia, along with risks particular to ear surgery: visible scarring (usually hidden), ears that sit unevenly, changes in skin sensation that are often temporary, and overcorrection that leaves the ears looking unnaturally pressed against the head (Mayo Clinic, accessed 2026).

Overcorrection deserves a proper conversation. A patient who has been teased about prominent ears for years may ask for them to be as flat as possible, and a careful surgeon may push back. Ears that look glued to the skull can draw more attention than the original shape. Bring photos of ears you consider natural-looking, ideally on faces similar to yours, and listen closely if the surgeon explains why your request needs adjusting.

The headband phase: recovery in practical terms

Mayo Clinic's recovery notes are straightforward. You leave with your ears bandaged for support and protection. Some discomfort and itching are normal. You should avoid sleeping on your side, avoid rubbing the incisions and wear shirts with buttons or loose collars. Bandages typically come off a few days after surgery, the ears will likely be swollen, and you are advised to wear a loose headband over the ears at night for a few weeks to stop them folding forward while you sleep (Mayo Clinic, accessed 2026).

That headband is a small detail with real consequences. A pillow that bends a healing ear forward during the night can undo some of the correction. Pack two soft headbands, practice sleeping on your back before the trip and ask whether your surgeon has a specific type in mind.

What to pack specifically for ear surgery

• Button-up or zip tops so nothing pulls over your head.
• Two soft, wide headbands for nighttime.
• A travel pillow or wedge that helps you stay on your back.
• A loose hat or scarf if you want to cover the bandages on the way back from the clinic.
• Pain medication and any antibiotics prescribed by your surgical team, rather than products bought on impulse at a pharmacy.

How long to plan in Medellín

Because the surgery is relatively short, many patients assume a very short trip will do. The deciding factor is not the operation but the follow-up. You want to be in the city when the bandages come off and the surgeon checks the result, and, if any stitches need removing, you want that done by the team who placed them.

On flying, the NHS suggests avoiding air travel for 7 to 10 days after facial procedures (NHS, accessed 2026), and the CDC Yellow Book cites American Society of Plastic Surgeons advice to wait 7 to 10 days after cosmetic procedures on the face, eyelids or nose (CDC Yellow Book, 2026). Neither source names ear surgery specifically, so ask your surgeon directly what they consider safe for you, and book a flexible return.

Adults, teenagers and Colombian law

Mayo Clinic notes that otoplasty can be done once the ears have reached full size, which can be as young as about 4 to 6 years old, and that adults have it too. Most international patients who come to Medellín for ear surgery are adults, but families sometimes ask about bringing an older child or teenager.

Colombia's Ley 1799 of 2016 bans aesthetic medical and surgical procedures for patients under 18, and states that parental consent does not create an exception. The same law lists exceptions, and ear and nose surgery are among them, along with reconstructive surgery and procedures motivated by documented physical or psychological conditions (Ley 1799 de 2016, Supersalud normograma). Supersalud's compilation also marks the core prohibition article as conditionally upheld by the Constitutional Court, so families should ask the treating surgeon and clinic to explain, in writing, how the current rules apply to a specific minor before booking anything.

Revision and previous ear surgery

A meaningful share of ear surgery patients are not first-timers. Some had surgery as children and one ear has since drifted. Others had an overcorrected result they want softened. Mayo Clinic notes revision is something to raise with your surgeon if you are unhappy with your result.

If you have had ear surgery before, bring whatever records you can find, including the year, the country and any operative notes. Revision work on scarred cartilage is usually more complex than a first operation, so this is one case where you should specifically ask how much revision ear surgery the surgeon performs.

Before you send a deposit

1. Confirm the surgeon's specialty in Colombia's government registry using their full legal name. Our guide to verifying a Medellín surgeon shows how.
2. Ask where the operation will take place and whether the facility is licensed for the anesthesia being used.
3. Get the plan in writing: what will be changed on each ear, what type of anesthesia, how many follow-ups and what revision would cost.
4. Arrange who at home could look at your ears if something worries you after you leave Colombia.