Has anyone had ear pinning surgery and how was the experience?

[WingnutSOS]

Anyone have any experience of ear pinning procedures? Long wanted to have this done…..years and years of awkwardness and embarrassment..😳

I did but I was 12 and I’m 49 now so not sure how relevant my experience would be. Positives would be that I have never had to worry about sticking out ears again - whole life spent with hair up not thinking twice about something that would have been (and was) a constant low level concern. You’ve also just inspired me to notice that my kids don’t have the ears either so swerved that one too.

down side for me was that I still have occasional pain behind my ears many years later and can’t wear glasses all day without it being sore!

@Janefx40 thanks for that. So great you were able to do that. Did you get it NHS as a child? Suspect that wouldn’t be an option for an adult these days 😖
but it bothers me so much - I wish I had voiced my worries s a child - I would be prepared to try to fund it xx

Yes I did when I 10. I can’t wear my hair up as both ears have pointy bits and wearing a headband/glasses etc sometimes leaves a sore patch behind my right ear.
that said I can’t really remember much difference. I know I I was in full head bandage for 4-6 weeks and it likely stopped all bullying as I entered my high school years

I had it done when I was 9 or 10 (44 now)
i remember being in bandages for weeks, then having a bandage on overnight only for a few weeks

I had it done at ten and I don't regret it for a second. I hated my ears before and felt so embarrassed and now I don't think about them. If my child's ears stuck out I wouldn't think twice about having theirs done. The recovery took a few weeks and I had to wear a head bandage but it was worth it imo.

Yes, 1969, I was 7. No issues, NHS. I love my parents for pushing for it, as my ears really did stick out. Worn glasses since age 15, no.issues.

My son was 18 when he had his ears pinned. They were done with local anaesthetic. He is in his 40s now. Wears glasses. Never had a problem. They look great by the way.

Just now before bed my 7 year old is complaining about her slightly sticky out ears. She has mentioned it on/off from 6. She says nobody has said anything mean at school. To those who had surgery young, at what age did you first notice them? I am hoping with reassurance she'll get over it (mild) but would consider surgery if it eventually became a big thing for her.

Not sure the NHS will do it for you these days as it is cosmetic. My son was a private patient. Worth paying for.

Ah yes I forgot about the bandage! I think I only had it for 2 weeks.

mine was paid for privately on my Dad’s health insurance. I am very grateful to my Mum for pushing it. My Mum adores us but also wasn’t one of those parents who was blind to this stuff. She also trained out my lisp for which I am also grateful. And sent me to ballet as my feet turned in a bit. Life could have been different! She somehow managed to make me feel valuable at the same time.

@Bluehouse14I can’t quite remember when I first noticed it but think I had been bothered for a while and it was quite bad. My brother had it much milder and didn’t have surgery.

I had it done when I was around 12. Only one ear stuck out, so they just did that side. No problems afterwards and I didn’t ever think about it until having to wear a mask in Covid. Then the scar really bothered me and made wearing a mask difficult. Fingers crossed we never return to those days!

Thanks all, reckoning around £6k….but keen!

@Bluehouse14 i really wish my mum had asked for it when I was younger, it’s caused my a lot of distress xx

I'm 51 now and had it done on the NHS when I was 17. I don't have any issues these days, for the first few years afterwards my ears hurt in cold weather but that was it. I'm so glad I had it done, my ears look great now.

Following with interest and pleased to see many positive replies. We've just got a referral for my 8yo DD to have ear pinning surgery and I was worried I'd be seen as a vain mum for encouraging it, but I just thought it would be easier to get it done while she is younger rather than later when the surgery might be more complicated. We're lucky to have private health insurance and I was surprised that they cover it as I thought it would be seen as cosmetic.

I think you should go for it OP. I dislike my ears, very self-conscious of them and was bullied. However pinning them won’t fix the issue as it’s more the lobes that are really big rather than sticking out ears. I’ve looked at lobe reduction but paranoid they will end up uneven and draw more attention. Go for it, pinning seems like a great idea.

Had it done when I was 11 on the NHS (but done in a private hospital). It was fine. I don’t remember any pain just the huge bandage that I wore for two weeks. If you can have a couple of weeks off work I say go for it.

I have recently in my forties spent the best part of 10mm on getting my teeth fixed and having my varicose veins removed and don’t regret it one bit. I feel much more confident with both now dealt with.

I had this done when I was 15 (now 52) and I’ve never had any long-term side effects like other posters have mentioned. One ear is much better than the other though but no one has ever said anything to me. This was done privately but in another country.

@Thesearenotthedroidsyouarelookingfor you are right. I sorted my uneven teeth out (Invisalign) and it really gave me a confidence boost.

This ears issue just alsways seemed such big thing to broach…but I do think I need to do it..

I paid privately to have my ears done in my 20s. My parents didn't care about stuff like that, so it wasn't done when I was younger.

Before the surgery I was always self conscious. I never wore my hair up, which made going to the gym or swimming impossible. I styled my hair very carefully to hide my ears, it was a real paranoia of mine.

It was, hands down, one of the best things I've ever spent money on. If my ears somehow popped back out tomorrow I would book to have the surgery again immediately.

The recovery is a bit painful, and you have to wear a big bandage over your ears for a week or two, but it's worth it. I've never had any issues with my ears, they healed great and are even.

I say go for it! It removes a constant low level anxiety from your life.

@LittlestBoho you sound like you lived the same anxieties as me 💗

I've had it under local anaesthetic. It was fine. I had an interesting conversation with the surgeon. I don't remember pain. The worst thing was not washing my hair for a week. That was truly awful. You have nothing to worry about.

And it did make a huge difference to how I felt about myself. Huge.

I was the same. I was bullied at school over my ears and tried to wear my hair to cover them but they stuck out through it. I was so self conscious it really affected me. I wish I could have had it done younger than 17.

Yes! When j was 16 and then again 5 years later as they had basically pinned them forward 🫥 best thing I ever did. Hands down. V painful but so worth it