The plastic used for    is a porous high-density  specially formulated to use as the material to make body implant, so it is also called with a specific name as OMNIPORE. The high density is to ensure Omnipore strong, its interconnecting open pore structure allows for body’s tissue ingrowth (see figure above). The invitro and invivo studies show that Omnipore is biocompatible, easily tolerated by the body and does not cause any harm. Omnipore has a decades-old history of applicating to make implant frames in plastic surgery to show its high level of reliability.

A  silicon prosthetic ear  can be created to look very similar to a patient’s normal ear. The ear prosthesis procedure is simpler and less risk than   . It provides an option for patients who are not candidates for surgery. A disadvantage of prosthetic ear is the fading of ear color and deterioration of the prosthesis requires replacement every 2–3 years. There are two methods that are used to attach the ear prostheses. One uses a glue to adhere the ear to the skin. The second method uses titanium implants   which are placed onto the bone around the ear. The prosthetic ear can then be “snapped” into place. The prosthetic ear using a glue needs to be removed at night and replaced each morning, difficulty hiding the seam between the prosthesis and cheek normal skin and may lose the prosthesis during sport or rough play. The prosthetic ear using implants do not to be removed and replaced each day.

No. Typically, sonographers do not focus on looking for Microtia or the details of the ears. Sonographers focus more on the organs of the baby, to make sure everything is developing correctly. Ultrasounds are used to detect abnormal features such as in Down’s Syndrome or mis-shapen limbs, along with general blood screening if requested, etc…. It is possible that you can ask the sonographer to look for more details as ultrasound technology today has improved greatly. However, this would only notify you that your child would have Microtia. An ultrasound can not prevent Microtia from happening nor can it fix it.

Microtia plastic surgery using a   is also called  . First introduced by Dr. John Reinisch, Medpor is a surgery that uses a foam   ear frame with autologous tissue to shape the ear. The polyethylene frame is sculpted to resemble a healthy ear frame (Figure 1) is implanted in the appropriate position (Figure 2) and then covered by a thin layer of tissue that turns down from the subcutaneous layer (called the temporal flap) and cover with a skin graft taken from patient’s own thigh or abdomen. All of these steps are performed in one operation. Advantages:  Can be done with three-year-olds, before they go to school; For children with hearing loss, surgery to restore the ear canal   can be done before or at the same time with reconstructing the defective ear; Minimizes pain relief while allowing children to go home (outpatient) one hour after surgery; Reconstructive surgery is performed once and in 80% of cases are outpatient; The reconstructed ear is formatted to correspond to the normal ear in size and appearance (Figure 3); The reconstructed ear can withstand most sports. Disadvantages:  The ear frame is the plastic that replaces the body’s tissue; Only a few surgeons are trained in this surgery, an inexperienced ear surgeon with a defective ear will lead to unexpected results. In Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, after a period of practice under the direct guidance of Dr. John Reinisch and his associates of Faculty of Facial Surgery, Plastic and Aesthetics, successfully performed the first Medpor ear reconstruction in Vietnam at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital. Photographs 2 months after surgery show that the patient has had wonderful reconstructive ears.