Instrumentation: xeroform gauze and cotton

The goal of auricular reconstruction is to achieve a natural appearance of the reconstructed side with a form that resembles the normal ear and endures over a lifetime. For severe deformities in which major cartilaginous elements are missing, established reconstructive techniques using alloplastic constructs wrapped in temporoparietal fascia or carved costal cartilage grafts may be employed. For cases of minor deformity in which all named cartilaginous components are present, albeit deficient compared to the normal side, transfer of autologous auricular skin and cartilage may be used to achieve symmetry between normal and abnormal ears. This video presents the surgical technique and results of a grade 1 microtia reconstruction using autologous auricular cartilage transfer. This two-stage method of reconstruction avoids the use of autologous rib or alloplastic materials and often avoids the use of skin grafting altogether.