Earwell Newborn Ear Molding
EarWell and EarBuddy
Newborn Ear Correction
Does your baby have an ear deformity? Dr. Carniol treated nearly 100 ears in 2022 and is the #1 provider for EarWell in New Jersey. He has extensive experience with EarWell, EarBuddies, and InfantEar.
Newborn and Infant Ear Deformities
Newborn and infant ear deformities can be complicated, especially if they are not corrected early. About 25% of babies will have an ear deformity, and 70% of those will not improve over time or even worsen.
Why is ear molding an “emergency?”
During the first month of life, the baby ear cartilage is very flexible. The newborn ear is growing fast, and over the first month, your baby’s hormones change. In turn, the ear cartilage begins to stiffen. Therefore, the window for excellent results is quite narrow. Ear molding is best done early (even in the first week of life). The staff at Carniol Plastic Surgery knows that these patients take priority and we strive to get patients in, even the next day.
Considerations
Since 70% of deformities will either not improve or worsen over time, your child will continue to live with this deformed ear. Prominent ears and other ear deformities are common causes of bullying for young children. These deformities may be correctable with surgery (known as Otoplasty), which requires general anesthesia, starting at the age of 4. Adults with ear deformities may remain self-conscious about their ears and desire surgery later in life.
Many insurance plans will cover part or the entire cost of the procedure. Dr. Carniol’s staff will work diligently with your insurance company to obtain approval. For other insurance plans, Dr. Carniol will provide you with all paperwork to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Dr. Carniol has extensive experience with EarWell, EarBuddies, and InfantEar. He will examine your baby’s ears and discuss treatment options and benefits of each option.
EarBuddies is a smaller ear molding device than the EarWell. It is excellent for certain, typically more mild, deformities of the ears. However, it is not as comprehensive as the EarWell, which better corrects several deformities. For this reason, EarBuddies (EarBuddy) is considered a cosmetic procedure (out-of-pocket) vs EarWell which is typically covered through insurance.
Dr. Carniol meets with parents often when their child is above the ideal age for infant ear correction. We discuss treatment options. Sometimes, we can achieve some mild correction later on with certain techniques. Other times, we can plan for the future, and discuss what otoplasty (surgical ear deformity correction) involves. Dr. Carniol likes to see patients back annually, monitor the ear progress, and assess if or when the patient is a candidate for otoplasty. Dr. Eric Carniol performs otoplasty for children starting at age 4 in the operating room, and performs the procedure for late teenagers and adults in the office.
“I cannot thank Dr. Eric Carniol and his team at Carniol Plastic Surgery enough for their incredible work on my son’s ear imperfection. When my newborn required an ear procedure, I was naturally nervous about finding the right surgeon. From the moment we met Dr. Carniol and his staff were greeted with warmth and compassion and I knew we were in excellent hands… The procedure itself was quick and painless, and my son fell asleep before it was even finished. The results of the procedure are beyond anything we could have hoped for…”
• Sarah Almeida