Otoplasty can cause stenosis of the ear canal? (photos)

Ear stenosis or narrowing of the ear canal can occur after setting the conchal bowl back onto the mastoid.  If the ear is set back and towards the ear canal, it can cause narrowing.  If you are having a change in your hearing, I would have an evaluation by an ENT.  It may be secondary to the surgery or it could be secondary to another issue.  They can do a test to check your hearing and ensure that you ear canal is open.  It is possible your ear canal could be occluded from wax or blood.  An ENT could easily clean this out and resolve your issue.  

The "conchomastoid" sutures are placed from the walls of the conchal bowl back to your skull, or mastoid bone, to decrease ear prominence in those patients with outstanding ears and deep conchal bowls. The ear canal needs to be inspected after placement of these sutures to ensure there is no narrowing of the ear canal.If your hearing is a little off since surgery, it could be from some blood or wax in your ear. Your surgeon or ENT specialist should be able to help you to determine the cause.Hope this helps.Dr. Joseph

Yes, the conchal bowl setback maneuver can cause your external ear canal to narrow.  There are ways to address this issue if recognized during surgery.  However, the problem with your hearing may be as simple as some blood lodged in your ear canal from the surgery or a build up of wax.  See your surgeon or an ENT for an evaluation of the ear canal.  A hearing test (audiogram) may be indicated as well.  The problem, if anatomical from a surgical maneuver, can be corrected.  I wish you well! 

EAC stenosis and diminished hearing could potentially result from the positioning sutures when setting the "bowl" portion of the ear back. A direct examination of the ear canal would determine if your ear canal has been narrowed. Thank you for your question. Best wishes.