Is it common to experience pain inside your ear after a facelift?

Question

I’m five days out from a full lower facelift, and the only real pain I have is inside my right ear. The pain becomes intense at times, and I’m wondering if this is something that will resolve? It feels like a bad ear infection, though I’m sure it’s more likely nerve pain. Please advise.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Yes, this is where patients typically experience the most pain.  There is a lot of swelling which is present this can disturb the ear canal, this causes pain.  Please ensure you are taking pain relief and having regular follow ups with your surgeon.  All The Best

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

A facelift procedure can cause swelling that can sometimes narrow the ear canal.  This is typically normal and not cause for concern. It is also possible to have an ear infection or irritation from blood that has dripped down into the ear. Follow up with your surgeon for an evaluation. Best wishes.

Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS · Answer

Pain can be seen but its best to follow with your surgeon to check for infection, or occlusion of the ear canal with old blood.  If you have none of these problems, you are still early in your recovery and it may just take more time.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Although otalgia isn't necessarily common, it happens frequently enough to patients to put it in the realm of "normalcy".  This may be related to inflammation, blood/ wax build up in your ear canal or a combination.  This is especially true if you incision was placed on the inside edge of the tragus, which is the shield of the ear canal.  Keep your Surgeon appraised of any changes or concerns that you have.

Joelle Rogal, MD · Answer

Occasionally patients have ear pain after facelift surgery.  Often times this is the result of some blood dripping into the ear during surgery.  I would recommend asking your surgeon to look in your ear.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  If part of the facelift incision is placed on the inside of the tragus of the ear (as it should in my humble opinion to help hide the scar), this can create a slight bit of discomfort.  You may want to see your facelift surgeon to check that you don't an infection in your ear canal which would be far more painful.  
 Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front.  Cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face.
 A weak chin creates an imbalance making the nose appear larger, the mid face top heavy and the lower face look short that de-emphasizes the lips and allows early formation of a double chin.  Chin augmentation using a chin implant will add projection to the chin creating harmony and balance to the lower face.  I have found placement of a silastic chin implant, through a small curved incision under the chin (also allows excess skin removal) to be very safe, quick and highly effective.
 If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
My most popular SMAS facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision SMAS facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and swelling = rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
no incisions within the hair = no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.
Hope this helps.

Is it common to experience pain inside your ear after a facelift?

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