For microtia syndrome, reconstructive ear surgery and ear canal reconstruction can restore appearance and hearing. However, ear reconstruction is highly complex. Wang Haibin, Deputy Director of Plastic Surgery at Guangdong Provincial Second People's Hospital, advises parents to pay special attention to these two issues when considering ear reconstruction.
Part 1: Gain a Detailed Understanding of Ear Reconstruction Surgery
In an interview with Public Health Network editors, Deputy Director Wang Haibin stated that patients must undergo comprehensive preoperative examinations before ear reconstruction. These include measuring chest circumference, performing 3D CT reconstructions of rib cartilage, and assessing whether chest size meets standards. The development of rib cartilage is evaluated to determine the quantity and texture of the scaffold material, enabling a customized surgical plan.
Postoperative precautions generally include avoiding impacts, frostbite, excessive heat, and insect bites. "Impact protection is crucial because the reconstructed ear is assembled rather than naturally formed, making it susceptible to disassembly upon collision. Frostbite protection is necessary due to the poor cold tolerance of the skin flap, which can damage the ear skin.Heat exposure is avoided because the skin's resistance is weakened post-surgery, making infection more likely. Mosquito bites are also guarded against for the same infection risk."
Additionally, after microtia reconstruction surgery, sleeping positions require special attention. Avoid pressing on the affected ear to prevent compromising the shaping results and causing surgical failure.Deputy Director Wang Haibin advises that after surgery, parents should teach children to pay close attention to ear hygiene and avoid impacts. Since six- to seven-year-olds tend to be active, meticulous care in these details is essential to minimize the risk of surgical failure. Part 2: Selecting a Qualified Plastic Surgeon is Key to Surgical Success Beyond thorough preoperative understanding of the procedure, choosing a qualified, experienced surgeon is crucial—it is the key determinant of ear reconstruction surgery success.Deputy Director Wang Haibin noted that the industry sets high standards for ear reconstruction success. The ear comprises 16 subunits; a successful reconstruction must demonstrate at least 10 subunits, ideally 12 to 13 or more. The reconstructed ear should match the healthy ear in size and position by 70-80%, with relatively complete structures including the helix, tragus, antihelix, concha, and concha cavity.
"Ear reconstruction surgery fears failure most, as it is often irreversible," Deputy Director Wang Haibin emphasized. Unlike cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty, where poor results can be corrected by removing and re-repairing implants, failed ear reconstruction means the rib cartilage cannot be reused. It necessitates re-harvesting rib cartilage for sculpting, which is a significant blow to patients.If complications like exposed cartilage occur, not only does it cause significant damage to the skin in the surgical area, but the exposed part also requires repair. The follow-up process becomes very complicated, often necessitating the removal of a temporal fascia flap and re-grafting of skin, among other procedures. Therefore, choosing a qualified surgeon is crucial.
Currently, ear reconstruction surgery generally requires 2-3 separate procedures using different surgical methods, with varying intervals between surgeries."The direct burial technique requires an interval of approximately four to six months, the semi-envelope technique requires one and a half to two months, and the full-envelope technique requires two to three months. Overall, the two surgeries for microtia reconstruction are generally spaced four to six months apart."
【Expert Profile】
Wang Haibin, Administrative Deputy Director of the Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Department at Guangdong Provincial Second People's Hospital, Chief Physician, Master's Supervisor, Doctor of Medicine,Visiting Scholar at the University of Minnesota, USA; Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General of the Breast Plastic Surgery Branch, Chinese Association of Plastic Surgery; Standing Committee Member of the Oculoplastic Surgery Branch, Chinese Association of Plastic Surgery; Standing Committee Member of the Plastic Surgery Branch, Guangdong Medical Association; Standing Committee Member of the Plastic Surgery Branch, Guangdong Medical Practitioners Association; Member of the Ear Reconstruction Subcommittee, Plastic Surgery Branch, Chinese Medical Association; Editorial Board Member of the Chinese Journal of Medical Aesthetics and Cosmetology; Editorial Board Member of the Chinese Journal of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Specializes in ear reconstruction: Diagnosis and treatment of congenital microtia; management of various auricular deformities (cup ear, protruding ears, simian ears, hidden ears, traumatic ear defects, etc.);Comprehensive Eye Plastic Surgery: Double eyelid surgery, ptosis correction, eye bag removal, epicanthoplasty, lateral canthoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, etc.;Breast Surgery: Implant augmentation, autologous fat transfer augmentation, breast reduction, accessory breast removal, nipple-areola complex reshaping, Omegon removal, minimally invasive gynecomastia correction, breast ptosis correction;Lip Surgery: Lip thinning, M-shaped lips (seagull lips), corner-lifting (smile lips), lip augmentation, lip bow shaping, philtrum shaping, etc.; Facial Minimally Invasive Injectable Treatments: Botox, hyaluronic acid injections, facial contouring thread lifts for rejuvenation.