A 54-year-old member asked:
what are the consequences of having cauliflower ear?
5 doctor answers
Dr. Steven Harris answered
37 years experience Plastic Surgery
Appearances, chiefly: "cauliflower ear" refers to overgrowth of cartilage in an ear which has suffered trauma or pressure, often seen in wrestlers and boxers. A blow to the ear or forced folding of the ear for a period of time (as in a wrestling hold) causes bleeding under the top layer of the cartilage. This blood, if not promptly drained, is converted to cartilage and distorts its appearance. Hearing is unaffected.
Answered on Apr 19, 2016
Dr. Mike Bowman answered
19 years experience ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Ugly Ears: The ear becomes misshapen due to trauma. If you leave it that way....It sticks. See your ENT or facial plastic surgeon asap if you suspect you have cauliflower ear. It can be treated in the office usually. It is much easier to treat in the acute setting then after the fact.
Answered on Jan 10, 2016
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Dr. Otto Placik answered
34 years experience Plastic Surgery
Unsightly appearance: Repeated injury to an ear can produce the so called cauliflower ear deformity that be undesireable in appearance. Early treatment to minimize the deformity and avoidance of repeated trauma are the best methods to prevent the condition.
Answered on Jan 1, 2017
Dr. Annette Occhialini answered
36 years experience Plastic Surgery
Ear deformity: This is an ear deformity caused by trauma. Blood accumulates around the cartilage of ear and blunts the folds. This blood, if left undrained, will scar the ear with permanent swollen appearance of the ear. It typically has no other symptoms.
Answered on Mar 12, 2012
Dr. Todd Sisto answered
37 years experience Breast Surgery
It looks abnormal: If, on the other hand, it's an infection the cartilages can be destroyed leading ultimately to shrinkage and worse deformity.
Answered on Apr 25, 2015
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A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Astrachan answered
37 years experience ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Trauma un treated: A cauliflower ear is something that happens a long time after an injury in which the ear develops something called a hematoma. When traumatized the ex ... Read More
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Frederick Shieh answered
Specializes in Gastroenterology
Beat-up ear: Cauliflower ear is a descriptive way to talk about an ear that is be traumatized to the point where it looks like a cauliflower, sometimes permanently ... Read More
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A member asked:
Dr. Mike Bowman answered
19 years experience ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Fix it quickly!: When the injury happens, get seen by and ENT or facial plastic surgeon asap. Prompt intervention will help minimize long term sequelae. Cauliflower ... Read More
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ed Friedlander answered
44 years experience Pathology
Very difficult: You'll need an elite plastic surgeon and the outcome is uncertain at best. Like many other fighters, Mr. Couture is proud of his -- I trust you've got ... Read More
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