Advantages of the Stitch Method over Traditional methods
Stitch method	Traditional methods
Ideal result by always creating a round, edge-free anthelix	Often edges, deformations and scars along the anthelix
Patient can control and decide on the new position during the operation with a hand-held mirror	No deciding possible
Ears can be corrected exactly the same on both sides up to a millimetre	Ears often can't be corrected the same
Patient sees the result already a the end of the operation	Patient sees result only at first change of bandage
No headbands	Always headbands, sometimes for 2 weeks or longer
No cuts of the skin, removals of skin, only stitch incisions and stitches	Large cuts of the skin, often oval excisions of skin on the back of the auricle
No scratching, thinning or other working of the cartilage	Thinning, scratching or other working of the cartilage
No scars	Scars inavoidable
Miminal loss of blood during operation	Larger loss of blood during operation
No bleeding after operation	Sometimes post-operative bleeding of different extent
Post-operative infection risk at stitch penetration of skin only 2,8%	Post-operative infection risk at stitch penetration of skin up to 9,9%
No intolerance to the prolene thread up to now	Thread fistula and granuloma up to 9,9% because of use of different thread material
Pain after operation lasts only 1 to 2 days	Pain for a week or longer
Only three days of post-operative infection protection by antibiotics necessary	Protection of infection with antibiotics for mostly 1 to 2 weeks
Minimal traumatizing of the ears	Heavy traumatizing of the ear
Low degree swellings for about 4 days	Often heavy swellings up to two weeks or longer
No shaving of hair around the ear	Often shaving of the hair around the ear
Ambulant operation	Often in-patient treatment for up to two weeks
No post-operative check-up apart from taking the stitches out	Often several post-operative controls and treatments necessary
No sick leave at school or work	Always sick leave of different length
Low quota of relapse of 4,9%	Clearly higher relapse quota of up to 58%
Stitch reaction quota of 5,8%	Stitch reaction quota 9,9%
Serious irreversible complications are not possible	Serious irreversible deformations up to a cauliflower ear possible
Large tolerance with patients	Little tolerance with patients