It is important for parents to know that non-surgical ear correction can effectively reshape newborn ear deformities when started early. You have waited many months to see your sweet newborn baby, and now he or she is here! After confirming there are 10 fingers and 10 toes, you notice something unusual about your baby’s ears: one or both seem abnormal. Maybe they stick out, perhaps one or both are pointed like an elf, or the middle of the ear(s) looks crowded. Like any parent, you wonder if this will resolve naturally or whether you need to take action. Early non-surgical ear correction can prevent long-term deformities and help your baby’s ears look normal.
Thousands of parents face the same challenge. After consulting with a newborn doctor or pediatrician, they learn the ears may have a name: Stahl’s ear, lop ear, protruding ear, or another external ear deformity. Early non-surgical ear correction is often recommended to address these issues effectively.
What Causes External Ear Deformities?
ear deformities are present in about 30% of newborns, so they are fairly common. They are almost never a result of something done by the mother during pregnancy. Genetics can play a role: if relatives have protuberant ears, the baby may too. Some deformities result from the position of the baby in the womb or random developmental variations. Understanding the cause helps determine the most effective non-surgical ear correction method.
The Best Method for Non-Surgical Ear Correction
The most effective way to quickly, affordably, and painlessly remodel your baby’s ears is EarWell, a soft, pliable ear covering applied by a trained physician in minutes—without anesthesia, surgery, or discomfort. There are three non-surgical methods commonly used to remodel infant ear deformities: Tape, Headbands, and Ear Molding with EarWell. Each method has different levels of effectiveness, precision, and practicality. With proper guidance, non-surgical ear correction using EarWell achieves superior results compared to tape or headbands.
Tape as a Method
Tape has been used for decades to encourage protuberant ears to lie closer to the head. While inexpensive, it cannot correct most deformities like Stahl’s, lop, lidding, or cupping.
Drawbacks: Many people are allergic to medical tape and a baby’s skin is very tender, so irritation may be an issue. The tape must be reapplied frequently and easily falls off during bathing. It’s challenging to place the tape accurately and evenly if both ears need correction. Most importantly, the success rate of tape is extremely low, making it an unreliable form of non-surgical ear correction.
Headbands as a Method
Headbands have been used by pediatricians to remodel infant ear deformities. Like tape, they do not effectively correct deformities such as Stahl’s, lop, lidding, or cupping, although they may help with protruding ears.
Drawbacks: Keeping the headband on the baby is often a challenge, especially during sleep. The headband applies pressure but doesn’t reshape the ears. It must be removed during bathing. The success rate for headbands is extremely low.
EarWell as a Method
EarWell has a decades-long, proven success rate (over 90%) for resolving all types of infant ear abnormalities—not just protruding ears, but Stahl’s ear, lop ear, lidding, cupping, and more. Babies tolerate it without issue. There are no worries about EarWell falling off, and the device is applied by a specially trained physician, ensuring proper placement. Health insurance—including military insurance and Medicaid/CalCaid—almost always covers the cost.
With non-surgical ear correction using EarWell, parents do not have to guess if the tape or headband is applied correctly. Your responsibility is simply to schedule appointments with an EarWell provider and attend them. There is no discomfort for the baby and no need to worry about keeping it in place.
Tape vs Headbands vs EarWell
Finding a lifelong correction to an external ear deformity doesn’t have to be difficult. Becon Medical has hundreds of enrolled provider physicians specially trained to identify external ear deformities and apply EarWell for non-surgical ear correction. Find a provider today by clicking this link or call 630-357-7374 for immediate assistance.