Plastic Surgery for Cauliflower Ears

by

Dr. Paul Pin

Cauliflower ear is an ear deformity that results in a lumpy, distorted, collapsed appearance to the ear. The deformity is caused by a blow or injury to the ears. If the ears are treated quickly, the cauliflower ear deformity can be prevented. If the injury is not treated, the ears may begin to take on an abnormal appearance.

Causes of Cauliflower Ears

Cauliflower ears are caused by blunt force trauma, or injury, to the ear. This type of deformity can occur after a single or repeated blow to the ear, similar to the type of injury that could be incurred by a boxer or wrestler that is not wearing protective headgear. An ear injury may cause a hematoma to develop in the ear. When a hematoma forms, pressure should be applied and the excess fluid should be drained to avoid complications. If the hematoma is not treated, it can block blood flow and result in damage to the tissue, the death of healthy cartilage, and the development of scar tissue. The build-up of scar tissue and loss of cartilage contribute to the distorted appearance of the ears.

Treatment of Cauliflower Ears

When cauliflower ears are treated early, when the injury is initially incurred, surgeons can achieve excellent results. When left untreated, the deformity results in the formation of scar tissue and the cartilage becomes warped. Although cauliflower ear can be treated in its later stages, the amount of improvement depends on the severity of the condition. The goal is to reduce the amount of scar tissue and reshape the cartilage to produce the ideal appearance. In milder cases of cauliflower ear, the skin above the cartilage is lifted. This gives the surgeon access to underlying scar tissue and cartilage. The scar tissue is excised or shaved off of the cartilage. The surgeon will then restructure the cartilage to produce a more normal appearance; this may involve the removal of some cartilage and the reshaping of the remaining cartilage.

After surgery, the patient and surgeon must take steps to prevent additional scar tissue from forming and reduce the chances of a hematoma developing. The skin flap that was created to allow the surgeon access to the structure of the ear must be snuggly adhered to the re-formed cartilage; if the skin lies flat and smooth over the cartilage, scar tissue and hematoma are less likely to form. The surgeon may use bandages, a splint, or tape to compress the skin to the cartilage. The patient should continue to use tape in the months after healing to encourage the skin to fit close against the cartilage, as it does in a normal ear.

In cases of severe cauliflower ear deformities, some of the ear cartilage may be removed, and a splint may be placed for several weeks to support the new ear shape. In the most serious cases, the surgeon may use a combination of the patient’s natural cartilage and/or a cartilage graft or synthetic construct to improve the appearance of cauliflower ear.

If you have cauliflower ears, contact a plastic surgeon to inquire about treatment.

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Plastic Surgery for Cauliflower Ears