EarBuddies were invented in 1990 by Plastic Surgeon David Gault FRCS, one of the world’s leading experts on reconstructive surgery of the outer ear, to treat his newborn son. EarBuddies are designed to be fitted at home by parents, and are also used in some of the most eminent children’s hospitals worldwide, including the NHS (UK), Mayo Clinic (USA), The Portland Hospital (London), and Boston Children’s Hospital (Harvard).
By treating babies early and avoiding surgery, EarBuddies provide better results, without risk, at lower cost, and avoid the bullying and psychological trauma that usually leads to surgery. Almost thirty years after EarBuddies were first developed, it is the world’s best selling Early Ear Correction™ system, and has helped thousands of babies to grow up comfortable and confident with their ears.
Stick-out ears like Santi's can make life miserable and lead to "reduced quality of life & self-esteem, social avoidance and poor performance in school." Children and adults are often teased and while names like 'Dumbo, Big Ears, Yoda, Spock & Wing Nut' can be meant in jest, they can have a deeper psychological impact.
Once, corrective ear surgery (Otoplasty/ Pinnaplasty) was the only option, costing up to £5000 for the average UK paediatric case. General anaesthesia and time off school or work are usually needed, and while post-op pain can be managed*, complication rates e.g. scarring can be as high as 10%.*
Now there's an ingenious way to fix your baby's ear problems before they are aware of them, avoiding the emotional impact of bullying & teasing, and the costs & complications of surgery. EarBuddies splints reshape the soft cartilage of baby's ears, resulting in a permanent, surgery-free correction.
We think of it like fitting braces to a child’s teeth, only more affordable and quicker. Newborn babies can get great results in just 2 weeks. If your baby is older, this can take longer. Santi was 5 months old when his mother fitted EarBuddies. 4 weeks later, he can grow up comfortable and confident with his ears.
“We purchased EarBuddies in February 2024 and we are absolutely delighted with the results. [...] The transformation is remarkable and we are so pleased and relieved that we could help her in a non-invasive way. We have most likely prevented her growing up with a complex about her ears/her appearance. Given that the only form of correction later on in life is surgery, we are so pleased that we discovered this pain free and straightforward management option. She wore the splints for approximately 6 weeks and she is currently 7 months and her ears are still perfect! We cannot thank EarBuddies enough.”
Read Sofia's story!“We love EarBuddies!!! Our son had two “cauliflower” ears as we call them here in the States. Really he had a Rim Kink in his ear and a Folded-Over Helical Rim. Our Pediatrician recommended EarBuddies at our one week appointment. We saw results within one week! Putting on EarBuddies was easy - he slept through the whole thing! We highly recommend EarBuddies!”
Read Matt's Story!“I just wanted to email to say a huge thank you! My son was born with Cryptotia and despite this being pointed out numerous times by health professionals when he was born, none of them had any advice or guidance around it! I ended up doing my own research, and I came across EarBuddies! I’m so glad I chose to purchase EarBuddies as it’s really helped reshape my son’s ear! Please see the images attached and thank you again!”
Read Charlotte's Story“I wanted to write in and express my huge gratitude for EarBuddies. My daughter Isadora was born with a conchal crus in her right ear. After emerging out of the first 3 weeks of the newborn haze, I spoke to a friend who’s a paediatrician who suggested EarBuddies as a non-surgical solution to remould her ear within 4 weeks. I felt that it was worth a shot given it seems so much more straightforward the earlier you start.
I’m delighted with the result, and just feel so lucky we spotted it early and I was directed to EarBuddies. Keen to share our story as I think it’s been so transformative, and I just hope that all those in need can be made aware. Huge thanks to the EarBuddies team, we are so grateful!”
Read Olivia's story here!At least 5% of people have abnormally shaped or Stick-Out ears. Stick-Out ears are the most common ear deformity, and around 2% of babies develop Stick-Out ears in the first 6 months of life. EarBuddies can be fitted by parents at home in under 20 minutes. An independent study at the Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow in 2012 showed a 78% success rate in newborns when splints are fitted by parents, with 73% rating ease of use as 'easy' or 'incredibly easy'. With early splintage and dedication, fantastic results continue to be achieved by parents at home.
When your baby is born, the cartilage framework of the ears is extremely soft because of Mum’s hormones. Some squashing of the ears is natural at birth, but if the ears remain an odd shape after 48 hours, or if they start to stick out, this will quite quickly become permanent as the cartilage hardens. EarBuddies splints re-mould the cartilage folds in a baby's ears to restore the natural curves and hold the ear close to the side of the head so that when the framework hardens in the controlled shape, there is a permanent, surgery-free correction.
While the majority of EarBuddies™ are fitted by parents at home, when professionally fitted and the treatment supervised, success rates rise to up to 92%, even in older babies or those with difficult ear problems.
Professional fitting combines the surgery-free, permanent correction of EarBuddies™ with the clinical experience of trained fitters. Choose amongst our global network of EarBuddies™ Professionals.