This 2-week-old baby boy was brought in by his parents with concerns of a misshapen ear. He had a constricted ear deformity (without any space between the outer helical rim and the inner part of the ear called the antihelix). Our facial plastic surgeon Dr. Inessa Fishman treated him with non-surgical ear correction, or painless reshaping of the ear.
Newborn ear correction is a treatment to reshape the misfolded baby ear with splinting or molding. This is a non-surgical and non-invasive treatment that is painless, and has permanent results as well as a high satisfaction rate among doctors and parents. Newborn ear correction can help children avoid ear surgery, and the associated anesthesia, pain, and recovery, at a later date. For best chance of successful outcome, newborn ear correction should be started in the first 2-3 weeks of life.
About Newborn Ear Correction Procedure
Genetics, and ear positioning in the womb and shortly after birth can contribute to misfolded or prominent ears. Misfolded and misshapen ears can be corrected with nonsurgical reshaping if treated early enough. The newborn baby’s ear cartilage is soft and pliable due to high circulating levels of maternal estrogen, and this allows for reshaping or molding the ear without surgery or pain within the first few weeks of the child’s life. Our facial Plastic surgeon Dr. Inessa Fishman performs newborn ear correction by splinting or molding the baby’s ear with a device called Earwells, or custom designed splints. Treatment is performed over a period of 3-8+ weeks, and is painless and noninvasive. The newborn ear correction treatment does not require anesthesia or sedation. With newborn ear splinting, Dr. Fishman successfully corrects misshapen or prominent ears in over 90% of newborn babies.Learn More About Newborn Ear Correction
