Are your protruding ears causing you discomfort or reduced self-esteem? Through a simple surgical procedure, Dr. Elliot and Dr. Thornton can set your ears closer to your head or reduce the size of larger ears, increasing your confidence and comfort. For the most part, the operation is done on children between the ages of 4 and 14. Ears are almost fully grown by age 4, and the earlier the surgery the better for the child’s self-esteem. Ear surgery on adults is also possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an older patient.