The magnitude and nature of the problem, and whether both sides are addressed dictate what the operative times will be for ear-pinning and/or reshaping. Aside from addressing a protrusion some ears may require additional sculpting and reshaping of the underlying cartilage if other deficits are present. At the shortest, assuming the least involved pinning procedure of suturing the ear bowl to the scalp the procedure would take one and a half hour for both sides. At its longest, otoplasty can take up to 4 hours.