One Week Post Microtia Repair

A day or two after the surgery, Ben's right eye was very swollen - so we went into Dr. Lewin's office - and they said that was typical and that the swelling would get a little worse first and then better.  Indeed, within a few days the swelling in his eye was gone.

In addition, at first, it was very difficult for Ben to sit up and go to the bathroom because his abdomen hurts from the skin graft taken from that area.  After just a few days, he's able to walk upright and within two weeks, he can wear normal pants (and it doesn't hurt his scar on his abdomen.

July 27, 2011.  It was amazing seeing Ben's ear (above) for the first time.  Dr. Lewin's office and lovely Francesca Jahns provides a wonderful shampooing (regular baby wash) to help wash the hair where there is still a lot of healing going on.  The shampooing also reduces the itchiness from the graft site healing.  They also clean (with regular liquid soap) and re-dress the ear.  Dr. Lewin and Francesca provide the much needed "touch."  Not much you have to worry about!

Above is a picture of Francesca cleaning off some of the dead skin on his new ear.  It has stitches and is somewhat swollen but looks pretty amazing for one week out. 

Also, due to the swelling the ear sticks out.  Dr. Lewin says that it is impossible to make the ear stick out too much because it always becomes closer toward the head when the swelling goes down.  Just to set expectations, she says that the ear won't be healed until about four months.  Ben won't be able to get his ear wet at all (sponge baths) for one month.  He won't be able to swim for two months.

They put a certain ointment/substance on his ear to prevent fungal growth in this early summer weather (see above).

During this visit, Dr. Lewin says that she sees a first...I cut Ben's long hair while we're there and before they put the bandages back on his ear.  That way, his hair won't be in the way when they try to put on and remove the sticky bandages.  Then, Dr. Lewin re-dresses his ear and puts back on his ear cup and red cap (and shares a red vine with Ben).