If your child was born with microtia, an ear deformity, there are several options available for fixing it.
Microtia has a few different levels from the lowest level, a slightly deformed ear with an intact canal to the higher level which is absence of the ear altogether.
Whichever level your youngster is at, it can be fixed.
First, it is important to know that most surgeries to correct this deformity are done in stages and typically, the stages are spaced out over several months.
This allows the surgeon to correct one thing at a time which lessens the likelihood of a mistake happening.
Typically, cartilage is taken from the ribs and is put in to a skin pocket that had been created by the surgeon.
This takes a few hours and takes a couple days of recovery in the hospital.
There is also the option of a prosthetic.
The benefits of the cartilage from your body is that the material is all organic and has already been accepted by your body.
The benefits of prosthetics are that they can be formed more precisely and there won't be pain in the donor site.
Talking with your doctor will help you figure out what choice is best for you.
The second part of the surgery is recreating the earlobe.
This doesn't take as long as the first stage and is usually an outpatient surgery, meaning you or your child can go home immediately afterward.
Then, the surgeon will take measurements of your head and face, your other good ear and will make a decision about placement.
Simply placing it symmetrically wouldn't work because most people's faces are not one hundred percent symmetrical.
The last step is when your doctor creates the outward appearance of a normal canal.
He or she will also do any touch ups with placement and form at this time.
After this step, you should be good to go and your ear will look exactly how you want it to.
It is important to avoid strenuous activity or any contact activity that could bother the new ear.
Any direct contact, especially any with force, can hurt the new site.
Your doctor will give you a time frame for when it is OK to resume these things.
Microtia can be a scary thing, but it can be easily repaired and your life can be filled with confidence again.
Make sure you visit a professional and experienced doctor though.