What is This Deformity on my Ear? (photo)

Congratulations.  This is the first time I have seen the Real Self team of experts absolutely agree on any subject.  All the experts agree you have a Darwinian tubercle on your left ear.  This deformity as you call it is not all that uncommon.  The pointy piece sticking out from your ear is just an accessory piece of cartilage.  It can be removed using just local anesthesia.  The surgery would take about 20 minutes and the stitches would be out in 5 days. 

You have what is called a Darwin's tubercle.  They are quite common but yours is larger than most.  Removing it is a  simple procedure if you wish to have it done.

Your left ear appears to have a Darwinian tubercle. This is a very common feature of the ear but there is alot of variety in the shape of the tubercle.The cartilage can be shaved down and reshaped with an in-office procedure. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Excess ear cartilage and treatment is relatively simple to remove the excess cartilage and skin and reform the ear cartilage so you do not have a bump. This is done with local anesthesia and is not painful.

From the pictures, it looks like you have a variant of Darwin's tubercle. These tend to run in families and can be quite prominent to fairly tiny. It's simply a variation of the cartilage shape of the ear. Typically, this is something I would treat under local anesthesia (numbing medication) in the office treatment room. Treatment is simple, but careful, dissection and excision of the cartilage and redraping of the skin.

 

All the best,

 

--DCP

Pearson Facial Plastic Surgery™