Consultation preoperatively accomplishes several objectives. A thorough medical history and appropriate physical examination will be taken to ascertain your health status. If you are a smoker you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of the cosmetic surgery. Smoking seriously constricts blood vessels and therefore decreases blood flow to a given area resulting in poor healing. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications (discussed in DO’& DON’TS section) can cause increased bleeding, so you must avoid these. Details of any previous ear surgery will be noted. Ear asymmetry is usual and will be pointed out. Many times even when only one ear appears to protrude, reconstructive surgery is performed on both ears for a better balance. This will be better assessed at the consultation. It will also be determined what procedure would be more appropriate for you. As there are a number of variations of ear protrusion and deformity, each one must be treated in a different manner. In addition, cosmetic surgery can also imporve large, stretched or even split earlobes or lobes with large creases and wrinkles. This will be discussed with you at the time of the consultation.