The Closest thing to growing human ear

“Growing” New Ears

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DURHAM, NC (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Everyday, nearly 100 babies are born with some kind of ear deformity. Now, doctors are not only helping those with ear deformities hear again but also giving them a new look. It's the closest thing to growing a new ear. 

Mark Andrews is the “Chicken Man.” He's a comic and drives them to shows in his van … which serves as a hotel on tour. Andrews was born with a congenital ear deformity. He had no ear and no outer ear canal.

"You're missing out on that side and things that you take for granted,” Andrews told Ivanhoe.He turned to Duke University Dr. David Kaylie for help. 
"It really is the only sense that can be lost and restored,” Dr. Kaylie explained.
Dr. Kaylie built a new ear canal then drilled titanium screws into the side and base of Andrews's skull to anchor a permanent ear. Over three months, Andrews's skull grew into and through those screws.

Anaplastologist Jay McClennen took over next. You've seen his work before. He did the make-up on X-Men and other films. He crafted a rubber ear to snap onto those titanium posts next to Andrews's new hearing aid. Andrews and his doctors are proud of his before and after shots.

"He can hear from that side for the first time in his life as well as have a normal-looking ear,” Dr. Kaylie explained.

"This is a big, big thing for me,” Andrews said.
Now that the "Chicken Man" looks and hears like everyone else, he'll go back on the road to catch the chuckling, and clucking, he's been missing.
"Once you come on this side, then you really know what you really missed,” Andrews added.

Duke University experts say cases like this were previously solved with up to eight total surgeries. Four of those surgeries created an ear canal while the four remaining procedures crafted an actual ear. This new surgery takes one hour on the operating table.