Can The Ear Tragus Be Reconstructed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Is it possible to restore the ear tragus?

A: An essential part of restoring a lost tragus is that skin is needed to cover the cartilage graft that provides the foundation of the tragus reconstruction. I can see the scar tissue that crosses over the tragus site which undoubtably is the result of the mechanism that caused the lost tragus. Such scar tissue is not good coverage for tragus cartilage graft so the chance of a successful result is very low.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon