What's the Scoop on EarWell, Non-surgical Ear Reshaping for Infants with Funny Looking Ears?

The EarWell system is effective in reshaping misshapen infant ears - many published studies and parents attest to this. At four weeks your nephew has a good chance of full correction. Ear molding is most effective when started in the first days or weeks of life (the earlier the better) so I recommend seeking a consultation with an EarWell physician as soon as practicable. 

The EarwellsTM system, developed by US Plastic Surgeon Dr. Steve Byrd, is a physician-placed, non-surgical ear splinting/ molding system that carries a >90% success rate for newborn ear abnormalities.  It can effectively treat cup ear, prominent ear, Stahl's/ elfin ear, and a variety of other ear deformities.EarBuddies, developed by British Plastic Surgeon Dr. David Gault, are splints meant for at-home use, with parents or other caretakers applying them.  They work well for helical (ear rim) and antihelical (the fold of cartilage inside the ear rim) problems, and may improve--but likely not cure--cup ear.The idea of newborn ear splinting or molding has been around for a while, with Japanese and British studies describing treatment in the 1980s.  Starting treatment early (by day 5 of life) generally carries a higher chance of successful improvement and shorter treatment duration; this is because a newborn child has a high level of circulating estrogens from Mom, and this estrogen makes the child's ear cartilage soft and pliable.  Newborn ear correction likely decreases the chance of teasing and accompanying psychological problems for the affected child, may avoid subsequent corrective surgery, and at times, provides results superior to those afforded by surgery.  Treatment duration is 2-8+ weeks, depending on child's age and severity of ear abnormality.  Most studies show decreased to no improvement in kids older than 6-8 weeks, with the thinking being that as maternal estrogens disappear from circulation, the ear cartilage becomes stiff and resistant to molding.  My personal experience with 2 kids aged 2 months and 2.5 months has been good-excellent correction after 8-10 weeks of therapy.