Philippine Ear Reconstruction Procedure

What is Ear Reconstruction?

Ear Reconstruction addresses ear deformities that come from birth defects (microtia) or have lost normality from trauma, a disease, or previous surgery. The external ear apparatus undergoes improper development (including the ear lobule, auricle helix, tragus, and choncal depression) resulting in severe deformation. Ear Reconstruction procedure is conducted in a series of operations that span from four to six months.

In the first step, the surgery would need the fabrication of the cartilage framework with an inset in a subcutaneous pocket behind the underdeveloped ear. A lobule-flap rotation or cartilage framework elevation comes next. Lastly, the doctor performs a choncal deepening or tragal reconstruction that gives the ear a natural look.

How is Ear Reconstruction Performed?

Ear Reconstruction is done under general anesthesia and lasts about 7 hours if it involves both ears.

First, an incision is made on the chest to take a piece of cartilage from the ribcage. A local pain injection is used on the rib wound to aid in alleviating some of the pain after the operation and the anesthetic subsides. Another tiny piece of cartilage will be saved for later use, which will be tucked under the skin on the chest beside the incision.

The surgeon then carves the removed piece of cartilage with a stencil drawing of an ear to create a framework for the new ear. A pocket of skin is made on the side of the head afterwards, where the framework slips in and closed with stitches. The stitches that are typically used here are the dissolvable kind, so no removal would be needed. When a pocket is impossible to form, the surgeon would alternatively create a flap from the scalp instead. A dressing is placed following the operation along with drains.

When at least six months after the first operation goes by, the patient needs to pay another visit to get the newly-formed ear lifted away from the side of the head.

The second trip also puts the patient under general anesthesia, but the session is shorter than the first — lasting around two hours.

Lifting of the ear away from the head ensues. After releasing the ear, a small incision will be made on the chest to free the saved piece of cartilage saved in the first surgery. The saved piece is used as a wedge to push the ear into the proper position and is then covered in a skin graft. The graft is secured behind the ear using dissolavle stitches and supported by a special dressing. The surgery site will again be covered in dressing with drains included.

Risks of Ear Reconstruction

Ear Reconstruction‘s complications are minor to average, which include swelling, scarring, bruising, infection, and bleeding. Rarely, there may be numbness (which can be permanent in severe cases) and hematoma.

Who Can be Considered for Ear Reconstruction?

Individuals who have deformed ears acquired from a birth defect, congenital disease, trauma, or surgery.  They should also be capable of drawing realistic expectations from the procedure and aware of the limitations of plastic surgery.

Facts on Ear Reconstruction

• Ear Reconstruction is performed under local or general anesthesia with intravenous medications
• Materials for the new ear can be harvested from the ribs and make use of skin grafts coming from the scalp, thigh, or groin
• Patients should at least be nine years old before they can qualify for Ear Reconstruction procedure

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