Cartilage reshaping for protruding ears: a prospective long term follow-up of 32 procedures.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Correction of prominent ears is a common plastic surgical procedure. We introduced a new non-invasive laser-assisted cartilage reshaping (LACR) technique as an alternative to invasive surgical otoplasty. METHODS: Since our first report in 2006, 32 LACR procedures in 17 patients have been performed at the Antoni De Gimbernat Foundation in collaboration with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U703. For 15 patients, the procedure was bilateral, for the remaining 2 patients LACR was performed only on one side. The treatment consisted of seven stacked pulses (3 ms, 2 Hz, 84 J/cm(2) cumulative fluence) applied using a 4-mm spot hand piece. Early and late complications were defined and reviewed for the whole series. Satisfaction was assessed by the patients using a visual analogue scale from 0 (unsatisfied) to 10 (highly satisfied). The superior and middle cephaloauricular distances were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Except for two cases of dermatitis, there were no early complications and no late complications (like keloids) in the series. The mean superior and middle cephaloauricular distances were, respectively, 12.3 ± 1.9 and 13.7 ± 1.6 mm compared to 17.8 ± 3.1 mm (p < 0.01) and 23.9 ± 1.9 mm (p < 0.01) before operation. Mean patient satisfaction was 8.6/10 with all patients reporting that they would be willing to undergo the procedure again, if required. CONCLUSION: LACR appears to be a safe and reproducible method for the treatment of protruding ears. Other applications of this technique, like laser assisted septal cartilage reshaping (LASCR) for septum deviation, have been recently described.
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LACR studies on 1.54-μm erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet and Er/Glass lasers report stable reshaping with few complications.
“Studies on 1.54-μm erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet and Er/Glass lasers report stable reshaping with few complications,53,54”
From Otoplasty Surgical Techniques and Clinical Outcomes: A Practical Review (2026) · cites this paper as [54]
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- Authors
- Leclère, F. M. P., Trelles, M., & Mordon, S. R.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- Fundación Privada Escuelas Universitarias Gimbernat (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Mordon, Serge R.
- Venue
- Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-10-17
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 875-880
- ISSN
- 0196-8092 (ISSN-L)
- 1096-9101
- OpenAlex
- W1969845934
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 1.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatologic Treatments and Research
- Keywords
- protruding ears, prominent ears, otoplasty, patient satisfaction, postoperative complications
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Ear Cartilage, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Time Factors, Plastic Surgery Procedures, Laser Therapy, Young Adult
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