A 20-year-old girl received the first 3D ear implant, also called AuriNovo™, in the United States.

The first of its kind clinical trial was carried out by 3Dbio Therapeutics-a regenerative medicine company in the US.

The natural looking ear comprised of human living cells was made with the help of 3D bioprinting- a technology of mixing inks with cells and making them grow into three-dimensional structures.

The transplant was carried out on a 20-year-old girl, Alexa from Mexico who was born with a defective right ear.

The girl’s left ear was emulated to produce the right ear. The replicated ear will continue to grow and regenerate the cartilage like a natural ear.

This pioneering procedure will eventually also be used for people born with microtia (a misshaped ear), said the CEO and Co-founder of 3DBio Therapeutics, Daniel Cohen.

Following the successful procedure Cohen said that the ear took seven years of to develop and meet the FDA’s requirements.

The procedure will help develop self esteem and confidence in people suffering from microtia in the future, said the surgeon Dr Arturo Bonilla.