Wellspring Craniofacial Group delights in transformative care. Through this joy, we help families realize their heartfelt hope: to give their children a great start in life.

Families that come to our practice for microtia repair often have a lot of questions. While some parents know about this diagnosis during pregnancy thanks to ultrasound, most are surprised by the condition when their child is born. As experienced specialists in craniofacial procedures—and as parents ourselves—we know this can be a confusing, anxious time for families that just want the best care possible.

This is what we work to offer. Dr. Cone and Dr. Langevin are among the few surgeons who perform microtia repair in Austin, Texas, and in fact, the procedure is one of our favorites. Our doctors devote themselves to this patient population, partner with a multidisciplinary team, and incorporate the latest advances in surgery. This dedication elevates Microtia care, and creates results that are functional, aesthetically appealing, and natural-looking.

However, the doctors of Wellspring Craniofacial Group believe that treatment means more than the result. We offer your family individual and personal care, leading you and your child from the fear of an initial diagnosis to the joy of a successful result. We’ll be there with you every step of the way.

Collaborative Care for Outstanding Outcomes

Our doctors understand the feeling of being overwhelmed that many parents have when their child first receives a microtia diagnosis. We make every effort to explain treatment, simplify the process, and return confidence to families in our care.

Microtia is a condition in which the external features of a child’s ear form incompletely. Beyond the cosmetic differences, the condition can also lead to hearing impairment and speech delay. The diagnosis of Microtia may be in addition to other diagnoses or conditions, and other times it is a child’s only diagnosis. For microtia repair, Wellspring Craniofacial Group brings together specialists in different areas to address these overlapping concerns:

  • Our team approach often includes an audiologist, an otologist or ENT, and a geneticist.
  • We understand that coordinating care among different doctors can be a big challenge to families like yours, so we stay in close communication with specialists about your child’s diagnosis and treatment.
  • We serve as your main point of contact, allowing you to focus on caring for your child instead of administrative details.

While the surgical experience will differ depending on each patient’s needs, you can expect that no matter the circumstances, you and your child won’t just be a case to your doctor. Wellspring Craniofacial Group cherishes the relationships we have developed with the families we have seen over the years. We frequently stay in touch with patients and love getting updates and photos as they reach new personal milestones. Their long-term friendship is one of our biggest motivations.

How We Approach Microtia Repair for Our Patients

Wellspring Craniofacial Group is at the forefront of microtia repair techniques, helping children complete treatment more quickly and comfortably and with more natural-looking outcomes.

The classic approach to microtia repair uses cartilage from the rib to reconstruct the ear, lobe, and ear canal. This approach has some advantages, but several drawbacks:

  • It requires 3-4 separate surgeries.
  • Results tend not to look as aesthetic as they could.
  • Using cartilage from the rib means creating a second surgical site that must heal.
  • Children must wait until age 6-7 for surgery to ensure proper development.

Families choose Wellspring Craniofacial Group for microtia repair because of our commitment to the patient experience and our expertise in advanced surgical methods. Rather than relying on rib cartilage, our surgeons use MEDPOR® for microtia repair. This is a synthetic material that is strong, and shape-retaining. It’s also biocompatible and integrates naturally with the patient’s tissue over time. By using MEDPOR:

  • Your child can have treatment as early as 5 years old.
  • Most often, 1-2 procedures are needed.
  • The result will look more cosmetically appealing and natural.

With this state-of-the-art approach, we can help your child finish treatment sooner and spend less time in the hospital.

Common Questions About Microtia Repair

How regularly does microtia occur?

One in 6,000-12,000 children experiences microtia, which usually presents as an isolated issue and occurs more frequently with boys. Some children have microtia only on one side, while others have bilateral microtia.

Why does my child need to be at least 5 years old for microtia repair?

With the MEDPOR approach, age 5 is the soonest that children can receive treatment in a safe and predictable manner. Unlike the traditional surgical method, which takes place later in life, the MEDPOR technique doesn’t depend on the development of rib cartilage, so we can conduct the procedure earlier. Of course, Microtia can be reconstructed in adulthood, and we have many adult patients, as well.

How long will my child be in the hospital?

We have our patients stay in the hospital for 1 day following the first microtia repair surgery. This promotes a healthy recovery and allows us to monitor his/her improvement. The second stage of surgery is smaller and is typically a same-day procedure, meaning that your child should be able to go home without an overnight hospital stay. The facilities that Wellspring Craniofacial Group relies on for surgery are dedicated to pediatric patients. They offer high-quality resources and staff members that go above and beyond for patients.

Will the results look natural?

The doctors of Wellspring Craniofacial Group are both craniofacial specialists and aesthetic surgeons: a rare combination for this field. We focus on minute details during procedures to derive features that are cosmetically appealing and in harmony with the child’s face. Though we have extensive experience in the field, we never forget that any single procedure means the world to the patient and the family we are serving.

Wellspring Craniofacial Group is here for you. If you are exploring microtia repair for your child or for yourself, we invite you to schedule an appointment with us by calling (512) 600-2888.