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Assessing Patient Satisfaction Following Otoplasty: A Social Media Analysis
Shervin Eskandari1, Gianluca Ramirez1, Benjamin Aderinwale1
1Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction
|February 23, 2026
Summary
Patient satisfaction with otoplasty is high, with 90.7% rating it "Worth It." Key factors for satisfaction include improved confidence, natural ear shape, and positive surgeon interactions, highlighting the importance of communication and pain management.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
- Cosmetic Procedures
Background:
- Otoplasty is a common cosmetic ear surgery with limited patient-reported outcome data.
- RealSelf, an aesthetic review platform, offers insights into patient experiences and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction levels following otoplasty using RealSelf reviews.
- To identify factors influencing patient satisfaction and surgeon selection in otoplasty.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 615 otoplasty reviews on RealSelf (January 2009 - March 2025).
- Manual screening and independent coding of reviews for demographics, procedure details, pain, satisfaction, cost, and motivations.
- Analysis of satisfaction ratings (
- Worth It,
- Not Worth It,
- Not Sure
- and influencing factors.
Main Results:
- 90.7% of patients rated otoplasty as "Worth It."
- Protruding ears (55.1%) and asymmetry (17.0%) were primary motivations.
- Satisfaction correlated with reduced postoperative pain and increased confidence, not demographics or cost.
- Top reasons for satisfaction included improved confidence (38.5%), enhanced ear shape (27.8%), and natural results (17.4%).
Conclusions:
- High patient satisfaction with otoplasty is linked to aesthetic improvements, enhanced self-confidence, and positive surgeon interactions.
- Effective communication, realistic expectation management, and pain control are crucial for optimal patient experience in otoplasty.
