Corrective Surgery for Ear After Infection?

Cauliflower ear can be reconstructed through techniques done with an otoplasty. procedure. This is a difficult procedure to do. It will take sculpting with different instruments using a number of techniques that are often used in otoplasty. The results are usually more on the conservative side. In my experience, the ear can be made to look a lot better, but getting the ear to look totally like it was before is very hard.

There are a variety of techniques which can be used to improve the appearance of an ear after scarring from a variety of sources. The infection must have been cured before any reconstructive procedures should be undertaken. The surgeon must evaluate the skin and soft tissue of the ear. There are a variety of methods to improve the scars or changes to the skin which may have occurred. The cartilage may also have changed shape and be in need of remodelling. My best advice is to... more

Dear V, Several comments: 1. Spider bite is the most OVER diagnosed insect bite in the ER. Usually THE spider often accused of these incidents is the FEMALE brown recluse. The problem is that most such spiders are shy and hide in elevator shafts, shoes/boots and everything shady so it would be hard to explain a bite to the ear by a recluse UNLESS your brother worked as a plumber / elevator repairman etc. 2. I TOTALLY agree that reconstruction , if it is needed, should be postponed until... more

Dear Villareal, I am sorry to hear about your brother's injury. He needs to wait until the infection is over and the necessary time for healing to occur has passed. This can be over six months. A plastic surgeon can then look at the ear to see what needs to be done to reconstruct it to look more like the opposite ear. The actual procedures used will depend on how the ear looks, whether cartilage is missing, and where the scar in the skin is located. Good luck. Dr. Shah