CARTILAGE vs MEDPOR/SUPOR
| NATURAL CARTILAGE | PLASTIC POLYETHYLENE (MEDPOR/SUPOR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ear Material | Cartilage | Plastic |
| Will it break? | No, cartilage does not break because it is the child's own tissue | Yes, it may break because it is made out of a plastic material |
| Length of surgery & anesthesia | 1 to 3 hours | 6 to 12 hours |
| Number of surgeries | 2 to 3 | 1 to 2 |
| Time to complete all surgeries | 4 months | 1 to 6 months (if adjustment needed) |
| Age to start surgery | 6 years of age | 3 years of age |
| Cost | Cost is minimal because we make arrangements with most insurance companies | Because of the total length of surgeries, costs vary by surgeon |
| Psychological Aspects | We begin the surgeries around 6 years of age so that by the time the child starts the 1st grade, the ear reconstruction is finished | Teasing does not normally begin until the children reach the 1st grade, so we don't feel it is necessary to begin at 3 years of age as some surgeons do |
| Is the surgery Inpatient or Outpatient? | The child is observed overnight ONLY for the first surgery. The remaining surgeries are outpatient. | Outpatient |
