What risks are there with ear surgery?
Fortunately, there are few risks associated with ear surgery. But as with any invasive surgery, there’s always a potential for complications. You should discuss your specific ear surgery risks with your aesthetic plastic surgeon during your consultation and after your procedure to ensure you are on the right track to recovery.
All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Some of the potential complications of all surgeries are:
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Hematoma or seroma (an accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin that may require removal)
- Infection and bleeding
- Changes in sensation
- Scarring
- Allergic reactions
- Damage to underlying structures
- Unsatisfactory results that may necessitate additional procedures
Following your procedure, it’s normal for your ears to swell and feel tender. You may also see redness around the affected area and experience tingling in the outer ear, which will reduce over time. If you notice any of the following issues during your otoplasty recovery, contact your surgeon immediately:
- Swelling or redness that lasts for longer than two weeks
- A fever higher than 101 degrees
- Dizziness, nausea, or incoherent behavior such as hallucinations
- Severe pain that cannot be controlled with any prescribed pain medication
- Excessive bleeding in or around your ears
- Any severe disproportion in your ears, particularly if it looks as though fluid is collecting in one ear
The rare but potential long-term risks associated with ear surgery are:
- Scarring, though most scars will be small and unnoticeable
- Alterations in the sensitivity of the skin on or around your ears
- Bleeding or infection
- Asymmetry in the positioning of your ears due to changes that occur postoperatively
If you notice any of these issues, get in touch with your surgeon to discuss plans for further treatment.
You can help minimize ear surgery risks by following the advice and instructions of your board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon, both before and after your ear surgery.