Dr. John ReinischMD · Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Takes his own calls, so nervous parents can reach him.
The conversation
13 minutes with host Joe Brown. Start anywhere: chapters on the right.
- 0:00When a baby is born without a fully formed ear
- 0:46Welcome & meet Dr. Reinisch
- 1:39What to look for in a microtia surgeon
- 1:57Why an ear difference is often a surprise at birth
- 2:20Rib cartilage at 9 or 10 vs. an implant at a younger age
- 3:23Why experience matters for a rare surgery
- 3:57Children's Hospital LA and the 1991 technique
- 4:36Will a rebuilt ear keep up as your child grows?
- 5:11What to expect on surgery day
- 5:45How kids are put to sleep, and the video for parents
- 6:23A hard decision for parents
- 6:53Recovery, back to school & sports
- 8:23What parents tell him, beyond how the ear looks
- 9:39Teens, adults & revision surgery
- 10:21What he wants parents to understand
- 11:52Wrap-up
For general information, not a substitute for advice from your own doctor.
How he thinks
about care
- Focus
- Pediatric microtia and ear reconstruction
- Education
- MD, Harvard Medical School (1970)
- Training
- Plastic surgery training, University of Virginia; craniofacial surgery fellowship, NYU Medical Center (1983)
- Experience
- Craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgeon since 1978
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- Founded the Division of Plastic Surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 1983
- Academic role
- Professor of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC
- Clinical role
- Director of Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Cedars-Sinai
- Technique
- Developed an implant-based ear-reconstruction technique in 1991
- Writing
- Author of Modern Microtia Reconstruction (2019)
- Office languages
- Office team speaks English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Hungarian and Italian
Background from drjohnreinisch.com.
I've always been honored to have families come to me with their child.
Summary written by Top Providers from his Episode 13 interview.
In his words
Verbatim from his Episode 13 interview.
I've always taken my own call, even though I had residents, I give them my cell phone so they can call me.Dr. John Reinisch, Episode 13
It's a real burden for parents to have to make that decision. So you want to make it as pleasant and easy.Dr. John Reinisch, Episode 13
They usually come back at two weeks so we can take it off and make sure everything is healing well, instruct the parents how to take care of it.Dr. John Reinisch, Episode 13
I've always been honored to have families come to me with their child.Dr. John Reinisch, Episode 13
Usually with an ultrasound you can find it but it's so uncommon that they don't check for it. So it's usually a surprise.Dr. John Reinisch, Episode 13
Clips
Under a minute each, cut straight from the interview.
ShortsWhy an ear difference is often a surprise at birth
Ear differences are uncommon, so they usually aren't checked for on an ultrasound.
ShortsWhy some kids don't have to wait until 10 for a new ear
Rib cartilage at 9 or 10 vs. the implant technique he developed in 1991.
ShortsWill a rebuilt ear keep up as your child grows?
Ears are about 85% grown by age three, so a rebuilt ear is made a few millimeters larger.
ShortsThe first two weeks after ear reconstruction
A next-day check, a protective mold for two weeks, then follow-ups by photo or Zoom.
ShortsBack to school and sports after ear surgery
School depends on the surgery and the child; sports wait about two months.
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The practice
Details checked against drjohnreinisch.com.
Reinisch Plastic Surgery
- Address
- 9033 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
- Phone
- (833) 896-3277
- Hours
- Monday–Friday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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