Your tragal cartilage may be swollen from your incision, this could partially block the opening to your ear canal. You also may have blood inside your ear canal or cotton balls used during surgery to prevent blood from pooling inside your ear canal. If it is your tragal cartilage that is sore, it is likely from the incision. Cartilage of the rest of the ear sometimes get bent in a facelift dressing and can be sore from this. Have your surgeon examine you to see if it is something easily reversed. All the best,Dr. Brace
On rare occasion the ear canal can swell a bit to cause the sensation of plugged ears. Usually in subsides in a few days. Make sure you surgeons examines your ear canal to make sure that you do not have some dried blood that needs to be irrigated out.