A Two‐Stage Method for Adult Congenital Microtia: The Essentials of 15‐Year Experience

Treatment of congenital microtia in adults remains challenging due to the unique physiological characteristics of the costal cartilages and retroauricular skin, which interfere with obtaining a satisfactory aesthetic result; thus, different perspectives and technical modifications during treatment are warranted. This article aims to present complementary new information and essential tips to refine the surgical technique in adult microtia reconstruction.A total of 346 adult microtia patients underwent surgical intervention at the Auricular Reconstruction Center of Plastic Surgery Hospital (Beijing, China) between 2006 and 2021. Each patient underwent a rigorous preoperative evaluation and stages one and two surgeries.Patients were followed in our clinic for 6 months to 10 years (average: 15.3 months). The postoperative complication rate was 8.1%, which included cartilage exposure, broken helix, local hematoma, infection, poor skin graft survival, and scar hypertrophy.Our results showed that the two-stage treatment strategy for adults is versatile, reliable, and effective for the treatment of congenital microtia.4 Laryngoscope, 133:2148-2153, 2023.