Young men are deliberately damaging their ears for internet clout.
Young men chasing online validation are embracing a new symbol of toughness, but medical experts warn that the trend comes with consequences that can last a lifetime.
Cauliflower ear, a condition commonly associated with combat sports such as wrestling, rugby and mixed martial arts, is gaining traction on social media platforms where some users are deliberately trying to develop the deformity.
What was once viewed as an occupational hazard of contact sports is now being promoted by some online communities as a visual marker of masculinity and resilience.
According to Professor Chrysis Sofianos, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon and Academic Head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Wits University, the trend is deeply concerning from a medical standpoint.
