What to Expect From Ear Surgery Costs?

Have you decided to go ahead with cosmetic ear surgery? Are you worried about getting the right price? Generally speaking, prices don’t fluctuate that much within the U.S. The price you get for ear surgery is going to depend on several factors.

First, you can’t just choose an ear surgery procedure based on cost alone. Remember this is your body you are talking about. You need to find a reliable surgeon, one that has a great deal of experience, who is board certified by the Plastic Surgeon's Association and a doctor that has in hospital rights.

How Much will Ear Surgery Cost?

Cost will vary from state to state. The procedure may cost more in California than it does in New York, but generally speaking, it will not fluctuate that much. Cosmetic ear surgery will cost anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000 for the surgery alone. This price doesn’t include pre-operative or post-operative care including any medication that is needed.

Usually, the surgeon's fee alone runs in the mid $2,000 range, but when you add in the cost for the anesthesiologist, and the use of the facility, that cost will elevate to the $5,000 range. Many of today’s plastic surgeons offer some form of payment plan for the whole operation and some insurance companies cover part or all of the cost of the procedure.

The exact price of the procedures will depend on the surgeon you choose, his experience and what he has to do. Some procedures are more costly than others are because of what the doctor has to do to the ears and whether he only has to work on one ear, or both.

Other Factors that will Influence the Cost

Sometimes reconstructive ear surgery will involve taking cartilage from one part of the body and using it in the ear. Depending on how much the surgeon has to do in this procedure, the cost will reflect it. Obviously, this is a more extensive procedure and will cost more than just pinning the ears back into place.

Will My Insurance Cover the Otoplasty?

Some insurance companies will cover the procedure, depending on the reason for it being done. If it is being performed because of a major deformity or a defect, then it might be covered. If you are thinking of using your insurance to cover the cost of surgery, your carrier needs to be contacted as soon as possible, to see if the surgery will be covered or not. It is usually a good idea to have the surgeon himself write the insurance company and state the reason for the surgery.

If the procedure is being performed just because the ears don’t look right and it is only a cosmetic procedure, then none of the insurance carriers will cover the cost.

What if I can’t Afford Otoplasty?

To many people, the procedure may seem prohibitive, but as mentioned before, most plastic surgeons have some sort of payment plan that make the procedure more accessible. There are even many types of plastic surgery financing that is available to consumers of all types and income levels.

Is the Otoplasty for Yourself or Your Child?

Sometimes, as an adult, we can deal with many issues that seem insurmountable as a child. Big ears are one of these things, which really tend to bother children and cause them to be the brunt of a lot of bullying and snide remarks. Children with malformed or large noticeable ears can really be affected throughout their childhood. This can affect the way they see themselves and the way they relate in their world.

It would seem that a process as simple as otoplasty would not be seen as such an expensive procedure when viewed from this perspective.