I'm a popular girl today...I also heard from Dr. Bonilla tonight. Dr. Bonilla is in San Antonio and has a Microtia Institute out there. He also gave great advice and cleared up some things I wasn't so sure about.
Here is our conversation: (He was very honest with me) :)
Dr. B: This happened to one of his patients about 15 years ago, but not in the same area as Jansens.
Dr. B: Tissue will heal itself overtime. The area has no blood flow right now and will start to "resorb", "melt away". The area that does melt away will flatten out.
Me: What does "resorb", "melt away" really mean?
Dr. B: It mean loosing the exposed cartilage. Their is no way to know right now how much EXPOSED cartilage Jansen will lose, if any, until the healing process takes place.
Me: If I came to you for surgery what are my options to correct this.
Dr. B: 1. let it heal on it own for a while, 2. go in Jansens new "fake hole" and go under and pull soft tissue over ear and do a small skin graft on top. Blood will start to flow again saving the cartilage. 3. Shave down some of the exposed cartilage so the skin will start to close itself.
Me: Would you do surgery on Jansen if I came to visit you in the future?
Dr. B: Yes, but you are seeing a Top doctor right now. I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Jones and his work :)
He went on to talk about once the healing process starts to take place...if we loose any of the EXPOSED cartilage, their is cosmetic surgeries out there that can be done to make it look like Jansen has cartilage there. This is not a major problem, and can be fixed over time. He said that Chris and I were doing the right thing and staying on top of everything with Jansen.
Once again, I got great info from these great doctor across the U.S. and I am still so THANKFUL for Dr. Jones and his great work. Chris and I will let this heal for a while and take things SLOW this time around. Please continue to pray that Jansen will start to heal in this area so that we can save as much of the exposed area as we can.
We will see Dr. Jones again on Monday just to talk....(unless it SNOWS here)...I am keeping Dr. Jones informed daily with emailed pictures.
(If you have any questions/comments about all of this please ask...click comments... then click anonymous)
Here is our conversation: (He was very honest with me) :)
Dr. B: This happened to one of his patients about 15 years ago, but not in the same area as Jansens.
Dr. B: Tissue will heal itself overtime. The area has no blood flow right now and will start to "resorb", "melt away". The area that does melt away will flatten out.
Me: What does "resorb", "melt away" really mean?
Dr. B: It mean loosing the exposed cartilage. Their is no way to know right now how much EXPOSED cartilage Jansen will lose, if any, until the healing process takes place.
Me: If I came to you for surgery what are my options to correct this.
Dr. B: 1. let it heal on it own for a while, 2. go in Jansens new "fake hole" and go under and pull soft tissue over ear and do a small skin graft on top. Blood will start to flow again saving the cartilage. 3. Shave down some of the exposed cartilage so the skin will start to close itself.
Me: Would you do surgery on Jansen if I came to visit you in the future?
Dr. B: Yes, but you are seeing a Top doctor right now. I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Jones and his work :)
He went on to talk about once the healing process starts to take place...if we loose any of the EXPOSED cartilage, their is cosmetic surgeries out there that can be done to make it look like Jansen has cartilage there. This is not a major problem, and can be fixed over time. He said that Chris and I were doing the right thing and staying on top of everything with Jansen.
Once again, I got great info from these great doctor across the U.S. and I am still so THANKFUL for Dr. Jones and his great work. Chris and I will let this heal for a while and take things SLOW this time around. Please continue to pray that Jansen will start to heal in this area so that we can save as much of the exposed area as we can.
We will see Dr. Jones again on Monday just to talk....(unless it SNOWS here)...I am keeping Dr. Jones informed daily with emailed pictures.
(If you have any questions/comments about all of this please ask...click comments... then click anonymous)
1/6/11 (Stage 1 of 4) 7 weeks post 1st surgery....2 weeks post revision #2)
Jansens ear....The top of ear is the skin graft taken from his groin and then they moved skin over to try and cover the problem areas..Healthy and healing good. The problem area is the yellowish/red part (exposed cartilage)
Lunch at Me n Eds (Pizza)
