We advance adult and microtia ear reconstruction through the best Ear Prosthesis options
You have made a courageous decision for your best life with an advanced aesthetic ear prosthesis: You may have also decided to have your ear cartilage/tissue revised or removed and a sophisticated implant system installed by our surgeon partners. Regardless of your journey, you should expect only the most sophisticated and beautiful prosthetic ear restoration. We strive to provide you with the best outcome in the event you have experienced:
- amputation of the ear from accidents or violence
- loss of the ear from cancer surgery (auriculectomy)
- unsatisfactory autologous ear reconstruction
- untreated microtia/anotia
Microtia Ear Prosthetics
We will create a simple treatment plan to get your new ear prosthesis where and when it works best for you. If you are a parent, your child’s ear or ears will be meticulously restored through the perfect blend of artistic skill, digital scanning, and 3D printing. 
Learn about how we can create custom ear prosthetics for you.
Buzz B.'s Story
South Carolina
I just wanted to let you know that my first week with the ear prosthetic has been wonderful! The fit and look is flawless! My morning routine only takes a few minutes, But the real positive result is in the freedom it gives me, I no longer have to be concerned about where I sit in a restaurant, I no longer worry about first impressions meeting new friends and clients. Working with you was such a pleasure, I felt a real sense of collaboration, you are a true artist, and a most appreciated perfectionist. Please feel free to give anyone my email if they have any questions. Thank you for all you do! -Buzz B.
Buzz had microtia and had autologous ear reconstruction many years ago. He lived with the large poorly defined construct for many years until he decided to come up from South Carolina to have his ear prosthesis made in 2016. Buzz came back 5 years later to have it retinted and at the same time get a new duplicate prosthesis. Of course, we kept his mold safely archived as we do hundreds of others to make copies as needed. See that the new duplicate provided in 2021 has the coloration and skin texture to make him feel very confident.
We can scan and 3D print your ear prosthesis prototype in one day. This means you can receive an almost perfect prosthetic ear to match your other ear in just a few days.
You, like hundreds of others we’ve served, will feel a sense of serenity that comes with having completely normal-looking, matching ears.
Medical Art Prosthetics introduced a modernized treatment model characterized by the creation and delivery of aesthetic facial and ear prosthetics in the dedicated private practice of the medical artist or artistic practitioner. The oval FACE seal celebrates this level of dedication. Our ear prosthesis specialists have extensive prosthetics clinical experience and/or prosthetics certifications and dedicate their skills to making the most realistic looking ear prosthesis.
Your Best Ear Prosthetics Options
Which of these describe how you feel about your ears:
- I want an ear prosthesis to cover or replace my small ear (microtia ear)
- I want an ear to cover or replace my surgical ear reconstruction where they used rib cartilage. I am not happy with the way my ear turned out!
- My Medpor implant failed or did not work and I need a new prosthesis ear.
- I had surgery to remove cancer and now part of my ear or my whole ear needs prosthetic replacement
- I need a prosthetic ear to replace my ear torn off in a car or motorcycle accident, ear was burned, or other traumatic event.
- I just need a partial ear prosthetic to replace my ear lobe or the part of my ear missing.
- I have other concerns about my ear, or both my ears.
Do not worry! We have heard all these stories, and more. We are here to get you a great ear prosthesis ASAP.
You can choose from:
- The slip-over ear prosthesis – we are famous for
- Adhesive-retained ear prostheses
- Anatomical “puzzle piece” fit partial ear prosthesis for when part of ear is missing
- Simple top half of ear prosthesis, stabilzed by eye glasses, and “needs no glue” ear prosthetics
- Ear lobe (lobule) prosthesis
- Implant-retained auricular ear prosthesis, also known as an osseointegrated ear prosthesis.
The last ear choice is the only one that requires a surgery. We have trained or teamed with many surgeons in the United States to provide the Vistafix craniofacial ear attachment option. See the surgeons near you by clicking here.
All our silicone ear prostheses are painstakingly detailed and if desired they can receive studs, suspend earrings, or be customized to suit your style. Prosthetic ear restoration through our network of anaplastologists completes your quest for ear symmetry. Look in the mirror and feel a new sense of confidence and serenity from having a normal-looking ear.
Frequently Asked Questions
We can complete many types of ear prostheses in 2 or 3 days if you want to come and stay near our office. If we select a more complex attachment system, it might require just an extra day or two. Otherwise, you can arrange to make separate visits. We are very flexible and will create a plan that works for you. (The magnetic types that attach to bone-anchored posts take longer because of osseointegration time which is 2-3 months)
No. A lifelike silicone prosthesis is not implanted under your skin or attached to your body permanently. Even if it is a bone-anchored (osseointegrated) prosthesis– it must be taken off regularly to be washed and to maintain the cleanliness and health of your skin.
Ear/auricular prostheses are attached using adhesives, by magnetic attachment to osseointegrated fixtures, by gently fitting like a puzzle piece into existing ear anatomy, by attachment to your glass’s earpiece, or by our “slipover” method (for microtia/reconstructed ears).
We go over all the methods that will work best for you, including osseointegration. Your doctor will help determine if osseointegration is appropriate. Your preference counts the most, but we make the decision together.
Osseointegration is when small screws fixated into bone act as permanent anchors for the prosthesis. Surgeons we collaborate with place the fixtures, then we use the magnetic components that attach the prosthesis to the fixture posts (abutments). We have been refining osseointegration attachment to orbital, nasal, and auricular prostheses since 1984.
In general, we recommend that you remove your prosthesis at night for cleaning and to allow your skin to breathe. Some patients then learn from experience that they can adjust their wearing schedule. We provide personalized wear and care instructions for each client.
Almost all silicone prostheses are washed daily using isopropyl alcohol, detergent soaps like Dawn or Dove, and then rinsed, and kept dry when not in use. However, each prosthesis is unique and might require special precautions. Ultimately, we will walk you through your daily care plan and provide specific instructions tailored to your unique prosthesis.
The cost of a slip over ear prosthesis for microtia, a partial ear, and the implant-retained magnetic ear prosthesis will depend on your specific condition and the wide range of attachment options appropriate for you.
It is possible that your insurance will cover some or all the costs. After we receive your permission and insurance information our insurance specialist will help determine the level of coverage of your insurance plan.
The medical and insurance community often say 2 or 3 years is the average lifespan of a silicone ear or other facial prosthesis. Insurance might then pay for a replacement. Many of our patients wear the original prosthesis for several more years with an occasional retinting. Identical replacement prostheses are then available from the original mold taking just a day or two and at substantially less cost to you.
We do not recommend wearing the ear prosthesis during contact sports, or vigorous activities where it could be dislodged and lost. Otherwise, use your prosthesis however you feel comfortable.
These activities will not hurt the prosthesis. However, vigorous movements and/or sweating could affect the bond/security of adhesive-retained prostheses. We recommend wearing your prosthesis at home at first during strenuous type activities to become familiar with the strength of the prosthesis attachment.
We do not recommend sleeping with the prosthesis on – at least not on a regular basis. This is for maximum longevity of your prosthesis’ surface finish and for the health and hygiene of your skin under the prosthesis, especially for implant-retained auricular prostheses.
Infection rates around these abutments may be found in the literature. Two sample references for you:
Long-term outcomes of craniofacial implants for the restoration of facial defects Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 2018; 47: 773–782 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2018.01.013 https://www.sciencedirect.com
Survival and complications of implants to support craniofacial prosthesis: A systematic review. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Volume 44, Issue 10, October 2016, Pages 1536-1552 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1010518216301664
I hope this information helps in getting comfortable with the decision to have an ear prosthesis, whether it is a slip-on anatomical fit, attached with adhesive, or is the implant-retained type.
When you decide to have a prosthesis, it then becomes important to ask questions about the practitioner who will create and fit your prosthesis. We recommend critiquing the accuracy and aesthetics of a series of case results. When you see samples of accurately detailed and carefully crafted ear prostheses is an indicator that the practitioner has specialty experience in comprehensive ear prosthetics care. Pre-treatment planning, prosthesis design, patient education in proper hygiene, and follow-up care all promote maximum success in ear prosthetics.
