Stephen Gilbert, age 74, from Aghalee, was born with unilateral microtia, a congenital condition characterized by underdevelopment or absence of the external ear on one side of the head. Throughout his life, he was unable to hear on his left side due to the missing ear structure. Recently, he was fitted with a newly designed prosthesis that incorporates a hearing aid, enabling him to perceive sounds from his left side for the first time.
The prosthesis was created through the oral and maxillofacial surgery service at the Ulster Hospital, the sole service of its type in Northern Ireland. This department specializes in creating customized prosthetic devices for individuals with congenital defects, injuries from trauma, and complications following cancer treatment. Gilbert first sought prosthetic solutions at the hospital in October 1997, following an earlier unsuccessful surgical attempt that used skin grafts and tissue from his own body to reconstruct an ear-like structure. The new prosthesis involved removing the previously grafted tissue, inserting small implants for support, and crafting an artificial ear modeled after his right ear before final color adjustments and fitting.
Consultant maxillofacial prosthetist Brian Bigmore, who created the prosthesis for Gilbert, has manufactured approximately 4,000 prostheses and devices for more than 250 patients at the Ulster Hospital. These creations include artificial ears, eyes, noses, fingers, thumbs, and nipples, each individually fabricated to match the patient’s anatomy and skin tone. Bigmore emphasized that facial defects impact patients beyond appearance, affecting confidence, social relationships, and overall quality of life. He noted observing patients in severe emotional distress, with some reluctant to see family members due to concerns about altered perceptions.
Bigmore described witnessing patients’ emotional reactions upon first seeing their new prosthesis in a mirror as among the most rewarding aspects of his work. He reported cases where patients who initially felt unable to leave their homes later booked vacations and regained confidence in public settings. The service has seen increasing numbers of patients with head and neck cancer requiring extensive reconstruction, with some patients expressing that they would prefer death to living with their altered appearance. For Bigmore, providing functional and aesthetic restoration represents an opportunity to help patients maintain will and purpose despite life-altering changes.
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