Ear Reconstruction Chicago
Ear reconstruction is the term given to any surgical procedure that treats ear deformities, whether malformed from birth, underdeveloped during life, or caused by trauma. The goal of ear reconstruction is to create an ear shape that looks as natural as possible, restoring balance and symmetry to the face.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR EAR RECONSTRUCTION?
The correction of malformed ears can have enormous benefits on self-esteem, confidence, and appearance. You may be a candidate for ear reconstruction if you suffer from microtia (congenital underdeveloped or missing ears) or have sustained injury to the ears through trauma.
Ear reconstruction is commonly performed on children with underdeveloped ears; the procedure can be carried out as early as seven years old, giving the opposite ear adequate time to reach nearly adult size.
Candidates for ear reconstruction should be generally healthy, non-smokers, and not have chronic medical conditions that cause impairment of the healing process.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
Ear reconstruction is an individualized process according to each patient’s aesthetic goals. During a consultation at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we walk you through every step of the procedure, review the associated risks, and discuss recovery. We thoroughly review your medical history, including known allergies, current medications, and past surgeries.
HOW EAR RECONSTRUCTION IS PERFORMED
There are multiple techniques associated with ear reconstruction, including prosthetics, but the most common approach is autologous ear reconstruction, which is a method that involves crafting a new ear shape out of the patient’s own rib cartilage.
After a general anesthetic is administered, incisions are made in the chest and cartilage from several ribs is carefully removed. The cartilage is then precisely shaped to create an ear framework, which is then surgically inserted beneath the scalp.
This technique usually requires two to three surgeries to complete; after the healing process is complete, subsequent surgeries involve elevating the ear away from the scalp, repositioning the ear lobe, and other necessary adjustments to ensure the appearance is as natural as possible.
A major benefit to the autologous ear reconstruction approach is that it uses the body’s own tissue and cartilage and does not involve any foreign substances. Not only does this decrease the risk of infection, but also the patient does not have to have it replaced and the risk of the body rejecting the reconstructed ear is minimal.
RECOVERY AFTER EAR RECONSTRUCTION
Discomfort and some amount of pain are normal after ear surgery. Patients will be given medication to ensure comfort. Bandages should remain intact until removed by your surgeon, and patients should avoid any contact with the ears as they heal.
Multiple surgeries are usually required for complete ear reconstruction. Patients can expect approximately six months of recovery before the next stage can be performed.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF EAR RECONSTRUCTION
Autologous ear reconstruction uses tissue from the patient’s own body, reducing the risk of infection. However, there are potential risks involved in any surgical procedure. The risks most commonly associated with ear reconstruction surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Hematoma (blood clot)
- Skin discoloration
- Change in skin sensation
- Infection
- Scarring
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we take every measure possible to prevent any potential complication from arising. Patients can further minimize risks by adhering strictly to all instructions given by their plastic surgeon.
WHAT DOES EAR RECONSTRUCTION COST?
The cost of ear reconstruction is going to vary according to location, surgeon, surgical center, and individualized treatment plan. However, as a reconstructive procedure, your health insurance coverage may pay for some or even all of the cost of surgery. Be sure to talk with your health insurance provider before scheduling a consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago is equally committed to patient education and excellent patient care. If you have any questions about ear reconstruction and how it is performed, please schedule a consultation. We will perform a full facial evaluation and tailor a treatment plan that is right for you and your aesthetic goals.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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The plunging tip in rhinoplasty.
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Can you see the facelift scars? When the facelift scars are placed strategically and closed in a meticulous fashion, the scars are hard to see at the 6-12 month mark.
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Subtle changes on a thick skin patient after a primary rhinoplasty. Not all rhinoplasty procedures require major aesthetic or functional changes. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the tip was refined, rotated and projected. Posted with permission.
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This is a great case highlighting how we manage a crooked nose after a previous septoplasty. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the nose straightened by structuring the nose with rib cartilage, and the tip was lifted, rotated and refined. Beautiful and natural 6 month result for this patient. Posted with permission.
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Beautiful breast augmentation result for this patient. In this case we used a 350 cc gel implant, and placed the implant through a periareolar approach and in a submuscular plane. The patient is 5’4” and 125 lbs and went from a B cup to a full C/small D cup. Posted with permission.
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This is a great case to highlight the complexities associated with creating an aesthetic tip and how small changes can yield significant aesthetic improvement. In this case, the patient had a droopy tip, hanging columella, and too much nostril show. In the post-operative views you can visualize a tip that is lifted, more projected, and the presence of a more aesthetic alar-columellar relationship. Happy for this patient and her beautiful and natural result. Posted with permission.
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Proud of our research team for getting this published. In this article, we developed a unique risk assessment tool to predict major complications in facial aesthetic surgery. Thank you to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal for publishing our work.
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The hardest type of rhinoplasties for plastic surgeons to perform are cleft rhinoplasties. A major reason is that the anatomy of the nose and midface are asymmetric, therefore, you have an asymmetric nose sitting on top of an asymmetric midface. In this case, I used rib cartilage to rebuild the cartilage of the nose and fat transfer to improve asymmetries of the midface and lips. In the post-operative frontal views, you can see a straighter nose, the tip has been lifted, and the right nostril has been brought down and inwards. On profile view, you can see the dorsal hump was lowered, the tip of the nose has been lifted, rotated, and refined. The fat was placed in the cheeks and upper lip to improve the midface deficiency that is common in cleft lip patients. Posted with permission.
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