Have you ever seen anyone who was missing a part or all of the ear? There are many ways an ear gets partially or totally amputated. But did you know that otoplasty can repair this condition for you?
What are the Reasons for Ear Amputation?
Have you ever seen anyone who was missing a part or all of the ear? There are many ways an ear gets partially or totally amputated. But did you know that otoplasty can repair this condition for you?
What are the Reasons for Ear Amputation?
Techniques for partial ear reconstruction
When a portion of the ear is missing, the surgical repair usually requires the addition of cartilage for support as well as the skin on the front and back sides of the ear. In other words, the missing tissue is a sandwich of skin with cartilage in the middle and the reconstruction requires the addition of all three of those layers. Cartilage is usually obtained from the back of the ear or from the rib cartilage. The rib cartilage can be taken from the patient or obtained from a tissue bank. The cartilage is covered with skin, usually from behind the ear. These procedures usually require two stages.
Post-operative care and Recovery
These procedures are a little more delicate than a routing pin back otoplasty and require a little more care. As mentioned, these procedures often require two stages separated by a few months.
For otoplasty or ear reconstruction of any type, regardless of the severity, it is important to consult a surgeon with experience in this particular subspecialty of plastic surgery. Dr. Thorne is an expert with more than 30 years of experience in the field.
Dr. Thorne has successfully performed surgery for both infants and adults with every conceivable type of ear condition. He has one of the longest experience in ear reconstruction and otoplasty in North America. If you would like to schedule an appointment with him, just click here. He will gladly answer your questions and address any concerns about otoplasty and plastic surgery.
Dr. Thorne is the Editor-in-Chief and the author of several chapters in Grabb and Smith's PLASTIC SURGERY, 7th Edition.
Ear Construction Chapter in PDF