How Can I Get The Hair Removed From The Back Of My Ear After Ear Reconstruction?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had an ear reconstruction. My last surgery was done six months ago. I would like a revision to make it look better. Please let me know if you can help with protruding, rim, hair removal.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. I assume you had a traumatic injury and the soft tissue part of the ear  reconstruction was done using a rotation scalp flap, which is why there is hair on the back of the ear. Th thickness of the folded rotation flap makes the helical rim very thick. (protruding rim) That could be improved by removing the skin from the flap from the rim all the way down to the postauricular sulcus and replacing it with a split-thickness skin graft. That should thin out the rim as well as get rid of 100% of the hair on the back of the ear.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana