What causes ringing in the ears after having facelift surgery?

Thank you for your question.  It is definitely not a coincidence that many patients complain of the ringing in the ears after a facelift.  Many patients also complaint of the muffled sound and difficulty hearing especially when they talk on the phone.  Fortunately, all these issues are temporary and they are not related to the problems with the nerves.  Most of these symptoms appear with a particular type of facelift incision that is located very close to the ear canal (called retrotragal incision).  The swelling, that often develops around the incision, can cause the narrowing of the canal and will affect one's hearing and possibly cause ringing.  All these problems typically get resolved within two to tree weeks after a facelift once the swelling goes down.

This is not a common feature of facelift surgery in my experience, so I would recommend you discuss it with your surgical team.

Thanks for inquiring.  True ringing of the ear or "tinnitus" comes from the "inner ear" and would not be physucally from the facelift procedure itself.  It can be caused by medications or even stress.  The facelift procedure can leave fluid in the outer ear that can cause hearing obstruction.  Have your doctor look in your ear canal to make sure.  If there is any associated hearing loss or dizziness this may point to an inner ear dysfunction as well.  

I would say that the most likely cause of ringing in the ears after facelift surgery would be due to blood that collects in the ear canal during the procedure.  The blood can clot and cause a temporary decrease in hearing, which can produce ringing.  This issue normally resolves fairly quickly.  

The basic technique for carrying out facelift surgery will not sever any nerves that would cause ringing in the ears (or tinnitus). This is associated with diseases of the middle ear. The inner ear and central auditory apparatus. Some medications can also cause it, but surgery should not.

Dr. Echavez is correct.  During a facelift, a small amount of blood can collect in the ear canal.  Sometimes, this blood congeals and sits right against the ear drum.  In such cases, the patient can experience ringing and hearing loss.  Most of this resolves by itself.  In bothersome cases, the patient can flush the ear canal with any commercially available ear flush solutionIf this does not solve the problem, talk to your surgeon.

The report of ringing in the ears (tinnitus) post Facelift surgery is a rare occurrence. This ringing is from congestion of the inner ear caused by intubation of the oral airway from the anesthesiologist. The tinnitus is resolved by decongestant or saline flush. The nerves are not effected, the tinnitus is a transit side effect. 
Best of Luck With Your Surgery! 

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. There are many possible factors that could contribute to ringing in the ears after a facelift. Of course, you will need an in-person consultation to evaluate you for this procedure. Preoperative visualization and surgical simulation with the Crisalix system may help with your decision. I suggest that you find a board-certified plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of patients who have had similar procedures. Good luck!
Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS

Harvard educated plastic surgeon

Texas “Top Doc”