Find solution
How To Make Ear Cuffs?

Half-grown ear, recommendations on how to make it "normal" appreciated.

  • I have an half-grown right ear. Any recommendations on how to "fix" it? I was born with an half-grown right ear. I'm 25 and Deaf, and it's still unknown if the cause of my Deafness is related to my right ear or not. For years, I have loved and accepted my right ear as part of who I am, but I'm just tired of my right ear now. It draws unnecessary attention from people, and the repeated questions are getting old. I want to start fresh with my life and just move on. For that to happen, I want to be able to "fix" my right ear. Any suggestions on how to do this (surgery? some kind of clip-on? and so forth) would be incredibly helpful. For the record, before any of you ask, I don't have Down's Syndrome, I don't have any other disabilities other than my Deafness, and if it weren't for my right ear, I would be "normal-looking." Here's a https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/s720x720/251414_536773390643_98200230_31073544_6876428_n.jpg to a picture of me with my right ear, to give you a better idea. Again, thanks!

  • Answer:

    I went to camp* with a girl who had a magnetic ear. It was the coolest thing. One of her ears never fully formed, and it both didn't work (deaf in that ear) and was I guess only partially formed. Apparently, after she had gone through puberty and her doctor was satisfied her face had stopped changing shape, she had the partially-formed ear removed and a prosthetic made. The prosthetic was awesome. She had magnet snaps implanted under her skin, and there were magnets in the prosthetic (which was made of silicone or something that really looked (and felt!) like an ear), and every morning she'd just wake up and snap it on. You could only tell it was fake by being right up on it and seeing the seam. And that was nearly ten years ago now, so I'm sure there have been even more strides made. I guess you'd want to go see a plastic/reconstructive surgeon for something like this. Good luck! *It was a nerd camp for kids interested in medicine and surgery, so it totally wasn't a weird thing that we spent so much time talking about her ear. In case people were wondering.

dubious_dude at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

This really needs to be something that you talk to a physician about.

tomswift

Yes, there are prosthetic ears, and yes, cosmetic surgery would most likely also be an option. I had multiple cosmetic surgeries, up until my teen years, and learned rather quickly that, at least in my case, my deformity wasn't the reason I was unhappy. My surgeries were successful (marginally so), but I learned that I couldn't get others to accept me until I had accepted myself for the way I was.

brownrd

If cost is an issue, I know of a program in NYC where you can get cosmetic surgery and you only have to pay for the hospital, not the surgeon. I think that an ear nose throat person might be a good idea as mentioned above (I don't really know) but if you're interested I can send you the info; There might be a similar program in DC as well. I understand getting tired of a physical issue like that, I'm sick of my broken nose which is why I've done the research on the cheaper options. :)

the young rope-rider

Paul Stanley of Kiss was born with Level 3 Mircrotia; that's partly why he started wearing his hair long as a kid. He has since had it surgically reconstructed somewhat; http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/14/human-factor-kiss-frontman-paul-stanley-hears-music-differently/.

Oriole Adams

The condition you need to google is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtia There are different grades, and yours looks like grade three. The article linked above talks about reconstruction options, which can be very expensive 50-100k. Deafness - can mean a lot, going by the odds, I will internet advise you to look at a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_Anchored_Hearing_Aid Good luck, I will follow the thread, and may be able to answer more questions.

dripped

Lots of good answers here. I just want to agree that it can definitely be repaired. We do a lot of that sort of thing where I work and generally a plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist both evaluate the patient, especially if there are other ear problems that can be addressed with the goal of improving hearing. So it probably doesn't matter which specialist you see first; you will be pointed in the right direction as your workup progresses.

TedW

If it's something that you think will be helpful to your self-esteem, then a cosmetic surgeon would be the first person to call. If for nothing else, s/he'd be someone who would know many of the options available.

xingcat

First consult with an otolaryngologist and have him/her recommend a surgeon who can discuss the options with you. This might not be a purely aesthetic matter, given that you have deafness. That's why you should definitely talk to an otolaryngologist, who is liable to know a lot more about such cases and is in the best position to advise you. Simply popping on over to a plastic surgeon is not optimal IMHO. First stop: otolaryngologist.

VikingSword

For what it's worth, I once knew a fellow who'd lost an ear -- sliced off with a knife in a fight in a pub parking lot, yikes -- and one was reconstructed for him, little by little over many surgeries, using tissue taken largely from his buttocks.

kmennie

Load more

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.