Ear Shaping for Newborn Infants

Did you know that many infants are born with misshaped outer ears? About 30% or more of infants have some type of deformity of the ear when they are born. Most of time these deformities are minor and do not affect the hearing of the child. However, misshapen ears can be a source of embarrassment as they grow older and impact their self-esteem. In many cases, outer ear deformities can be fixed without surgery if reshaping is completed shortly after birth.

EarWell Infant Ear Correction

In the weeks after a baby is born, estrogen levels are higher in the body. This can create a flexibility in cartilage that makes it easier to reform. The patented EarWell™ Infant Ear Correction System is an option used by some plastic surgeons to correct infant ear defects during the first few weeks after birth, reforming the ear cartilage to a more pleasing shape.

The EarWell system is non-invasive and not painful for the infant. The system uses a mold that fits over the ear. While estrogen levels are still high, the cartilage is pliable and can be reshaped using the mold for a few weeks. This simple procedure can create uniform ears and help reduce the need for otoplasty or ear surgery later in life. While it is effective, it can only be used in these critical first few weeks after birth when the ear cartilage can still be altered easily without surgery.

If you have a child born with an outer ear defect, contact a plastic surgeon that offers the EarWell™ Infant Ear Correction System. It could minimize the ear deformity without the need for plastic surgery.

Posted on behalf of:
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
310 East 14th Street
6th Floor, North Bldg
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 381-6110