Otoplasty cost: what ear pinning adds up to
Cosmetic ear surgery brings prominent ears closer to the head; MedlinePlus says it lasts about two hours, and general anesthesia is preferred in children.
Otoplasty, estimated total before the surgeon at national rates
$1,747
Anesthesia $266, operating room $1,481.
| Surgeon's fee | not included, enter your quote |
| Anesthesia, 13 units | $266 |
| Operating room, surgery center | $1,481 |
Benchmark, not a quote: the operating room and anesthesia lines are 2026 Medicare rates for the same codes; private prices for cosmetic work are set by each practice and are often higher. No public file prices the surgeon's fee: it counts only once you enter the figure from your own quote.
| Code | CMS short descriptor | Share paid | National rate | Local amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPT 69300 | Revise external ear | 100 % | $1,481 | $1,481 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · Where each line comes from · CMS 2026 rate files · not a quote
Cosmetic ear surgery, or otoplasty, comes to a room and anesthesia benchmark of $1,747 at national rates in 2026, before the surgeon's fee. The room is priced from CPT 69300, revision of the external ear, which Medicare pays a surgery center $1,481 and a hospital outpatient department $3,387. Anesthesia comes to $266 for the 120 minutes CMS records, which matches the duration of about two hours given by MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus adds that the operation can be done under local anesthesia, which leaves only the room line of $1,481, and that general anesthesia is the preferred method in children, for whom the full anesthesia line therefore applies and a parent's time off work is part of the cost. The surgeon's fee is set by each practice and no public file publishes it, so it enters the calculator only from your quote.
One code, both ears
CPT 69300 describes one ear. When both ears are treated, the facility bills the code for each side, and the second is subject to the reduction for multiple procedures. The site counts the code once, so its room line is a floor for an operation on both ears; the calculator's facility quote field accepts the amount on your estimate. The MedlinePlus page on cosmetic ear surgery describes the usual technique: a cut behind the ear, the cartilage folded to bring the ear closer to the head, stitches to close.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesia | $266 | 5 base units for procedures on the external ear + 8 time units |
| Room, surgery center | $1,481 | CPT 69300, one ear |
| Room, hospital department | $3,387 | Comprehensive payment |
| Surgeon's fee | your quote | Set by the practice, no public file |
Children
MedlinePlus says the operation can be done in children from about five or six years old, when ear growth is almost finished, and earlier when the ears are very misshapen. For a child, general anesthesia is the preferred method, so the anesthesia line applies in full, and a parent's time off work is part of the cost. Health plans usually treat ear pinning for prominent ears as cosmetic; a plan may cover reconstruction of an ear deformed by a birth defect or an injury, which is a different operation with its own codes, after prior approval.
Days off for a parent
Cost of the recovery, outside the bill
$1,251
| Pay forgone | $1,251 |
| Garments, medicines, other items | $0 |
| Rides and help at home | $0 |
Metro areas and payment
The room and anesthesia come to $1,763 in Philadelphia and $1,705 in Salt Lake City. Spread over a year at the Federal Reserve's average personal loan rate, the national room and anesthesia benchmark alone would cost $155 a month, before the surgeon's fee; the financing page compares the options.