Recovery guide · day-by-day
Otoplasty (ear) recovery: week by week
Otoplasty recovery is straightforward - bulky head bandage for a week, headband at night for 4-6 weeks. School or work resumes at 1-2 weeks.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Otoplasty recovery is straightforward - bulky head bandage for a week, headband at night for 4-6 weeks.
- ✓Return to desk work: Day 7-10. Return to office: Week 6.
- ✓Most exercise restrictions lift by week 6-12 depending on activity.
- ✓Always follow your specific surgeon’s discharge protocol over general guidance. Recovery times vary by patient.
Day-by-day
Full otoplasty (ear) recovery timeline
Day 0-7
What happens
- Bulky head bandage in place
- Mild discomfort, paracetamol-managed
- No swimming, no contact
Do
- Sleep on back
- Soft food first 2-3 days (jaw movement near surgery site)
- Keep bandage dry
Do not
- Pull at bandage
- Sleep on side or stomach
- Wet the bandage
Call surgeon if
- Severe pain unrelieved by paracetamol
- Bleeding through bandage
- Sudden severe pain unrelieved by prescribed pain medication
- Calf pain, swelling or shortness of breath (possible DVT or pulmonary embolism)
- Spreading redness, hot skin, fever over 38°C (possible infection)
- Heavy bleeding through dressings
- Sudden change in colour of skin or tissue (white, blue, or grey)
- Persistent vomiting that prevents you taking medications
Week 1-2
What happens
- Bandage replaced with elasticated headband at 5-7 days
- Stitches dissolve or removed at 1-2 weeks
- Return to school / desk work week 1-2
Do
- Wear headband at night
- Gentle hair washing
Do not
- Pull on ears
- Sleep without headband
Call surgeon if
- Sudden severe pain unrelieved by prescribed pain medication
- Calf pain, swelling or shortness of breath (possible DVT or pulmonary embolism)
- Spreading redness, hot skin, fever over 38°C (possible infection)
- Heavy bleeding through dressings
- Sudden change in colour of skin or tissue (white, blue, or grey)
- Persistent vomiting that prevents you taking medications
Week 2-6
What happens
- Light sport from week 4-6
- Headband at night continues 4-6 weeks
- Final position stable
Do
- Resume normal activity gradually
- Continue night headband
Do not
- Contact sport, wrestling, anything that pulls on ears
Call surgeon if
- Asymmetric position, persistent pain
Month 1-3
What happens
- Final position stable by 6 weeks
- Scar behind ear healing - typically inconspicuous
- Resume all sport by 3 months
Do
- Annual review
- Sunscreen on incision area
Do not
- Pull or stretch ears
Call surgeon if
- Re-protrusion, scar issues
Common questions
Otoplasty (ear) recovery - common questions
When can my child go back to school?
Most children return to school at day 7-10 once the bandage is replaced with a headband. School should be told to allow headband wearing at night. Contact sport at PE is avoided for 6-12 weeks.
How long is the headband worn?
Bulky bandage for 5-7 days post-op, then elasticated headband at night for 4-6 weeks. The night headband prevents the ears being pulled forward during sleep (which can cause re-protrusion in the early healing period).
Is the scar visible?
No. The 3-5cm scar is placed in the natural skin crease behind the ear and is essentially invisible to anyone not specifically looking for it. No scar is visible from the front.
When can swimming and sport resume?
Swimming from week 4 with care (no diving, no rough play). Light contact sport from week 6. Heavy contact sport (wrestling, rugby, anything where ears can be pulled) from 3 months. Combat sports involving head guards from 3 months.
Will the ears stay in the new position?
Yes, in most cases. The cartilage reshaping is permanent. Trauma to the ear in the first 3 months can occasionally cause re-protrusion - this is why headband and sport restrictions matter. After 3 months, the position is essentially permanent.
General guidance only. Recovery times vary by patient. Your specific surgeon’s discharge protocol always supersedes general guidance. Sources: ASPS patient guidance, AHPRA Cosmetic Surgery Standard 2023, standard plastic surgery textbook protocols. Last updated 17 May 2026.