i think it's cool that this would work. >> i thought about it for a good 18 months because once you have it, it's there forever. >> reporter: and you better really want to look like an elf, because doctors warn, sculpting cartilage is a risk. >> the real risks are, one, major deformity of the ear, which is very easy to have happen. and two, infection of the ear. if infection occurring it can destroy the ear within days. >> reporter: and it's also a very hard procedure to reverse once the ear is permanently pointed. >> it's very difficult and often, it's not possible to fully reconstruct a nice-looking ear. >> when i was in high school, i have to admit, i had the piercings on the top, like the cool kids were doing, i tried. but i could never imagine doing an elf ear. can you imagine that? >> now that i look at i, i can see you have two earring holes right there. >> but it's not pointed.