Some people who were born with normal ears can end up with a misshapen ear for one of the following reasons:
- Problematic ear surgery – your child may have had previous ear surgery that has resulted in a complication and an unsatisfactory result. If the issue has become difficult to resolve then you may be referred to our service for more specialist expertise.
- Infected piercings – it is common nowadays for teenagers to want more than just their earlobe pierced. Piercing of the cartilage is quite common but brings with it a much higher risk of complications. If the underlying cartilage becomes badly infected it can significantly alter the shape of the ear, requiring specialist intervention.
- Animal bites – this is a much less common problem but we do sometimes see children who have lost a part of their ear after being bitten by a dog or a horse.
All of these situations can feel quite distressing for the child involved and can bring a sense of loss, regret or distrust. We understand this and will do our best to address any psychological issues. Please see our psychology section for more info.
Options to rebuild the ear will be discussed with you by our Plastic Surgeon, Ken Stewart. The options discussed will depend on the severity of the damage done to the ear.
