8 years post otoplasty my doctor removed 1 suture that caused problems. Will this have negative effects?

Otoplasty involves the placement of sutures to pin back an overprojected ear.  These sutures are typically the nonabsorbable permanent type.  Usually these sutures are encapsulated in scar if placed correctly.  However, it is well known that they may work themselves out and potentially become infected.  Fortunately, I have not had this occur in my own patients, but have seen it happen from other patients anywhere from 6 months to 10 years after their surgery.  If the infected suture was effectively removed, then no further action is needed.  If the suture was present in your ear for at least several months before being removed, then it is unlikely that your ear will snap back to it pre-surgical position.  Hope this helps!

Complications associated with the
use of permanent sutures during setback otoplasty are fortunately rare.  The vast majority of these
complications occur early in the post-operative course, but rarely they may occur
in the late post-operative period.

When infection is associated with
deep buried sutures, the process typically starts with a suture eroding through
the over lying skin.  This opening
represents a portal for bacteria, which then sets up and grows
around the suture. It’s not unusual to have redness, inflammation and purulent
drainage in the area.

When this situation arises, it’s
impossible to eradicate the infection without removing the infected
suture.  Although topical
anesthesia may be used, most people don’t require anesthesia.  Once the suture is removed the patient
is usually given a short course of antibiotics.

The vast majority of patients do
well when infected sutures are removed. Rarely infection recurs because
adjacent sutures also become infected. 
When patients develop this type of complication in the late
post-operative period, suture removal doesn’t impact the ear contour because
healing has already taken place.

It’s important that you contact
your surgeon immediately.  Ear
infections should be treated early and aggressively before infection can spread
to the cartilage.

As some of the other posters pointed out, suture extrusion is really the only long term complication. After the infected suture is removed the ear should be fine.