Many children are born with misshapen ears. The ear cartilage is very flexible and malleable at birth, which can cause it to become oddly shaped from pressure in the womb. The pliable state of the ear cartilage continues for a short period after delivery, allowing time to reshape the ear before the cartilage hardens. At Maia Plastic Surgery, we offer newborn ear molding to reshape oddly formed infant outer ears at our clinic in the greater Washington, DC area.

While outer ear deformities do not usually impact hearing, they can be a pediatric cosmetic concern. Most parents do not want their child exposed to unnecessary hardships, including teasing for an oddly shaped ear. Plastic surgery can be used to reshape ears as early as age five or six, but this is an invasive surgery. If addressed immediately after birth, many newborn misshapen ears can be reshaped without surgery with ear molding.

How Does Ear Molding Work?

Newborn ear molding has been performed in some form for decades. Newborns have higher levels of estrogen during their first few months that keeps the cartilage of the ear pliable and moldable. New techniques use a specialized ear mold placed on the infant’s ear for a few weeks, reshaping the cartilage. It is not painful, and it can be very effective at changing the shape, reducing the need for plastic surgery down the road.

If your child was born with a misshapen ear or ears, do not wait to learn more about newborn ear molding. There is a limited amount of time when this treatment can be performed. Contact us at Maia Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation with Dr. Munique Maia at our clinic in Tysons Corner, VA, to learn more about infant ear reconstruction and ear molding options.