My Ears Are Ringing Post SMAS Face Lift, What's Going On?

    Ringing in the ears is probably the result of medication or fluid or some other substance irritating or partially occluding the ear canal on that side.  There are many causes of tinnitus, but the most likely things after facelift would be those two things.  Have an ENT work it up if necessary.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Surgery would be a rare cause of ringing in the ears also called tinnitus. It should be worked up however by an ENT specialist. The list of of causes of ringing in the ears is very long and some of the more common factors that can cause it are:

                                                                                                           external ear infection                                                                                                    acoustic shock, excessive noise loud noises/ or music (most common cause)

earwax impaction                                                                                                       middle ear fluid

age-associated  and other causes of hearing loss
Ménière's disease
acoustic neuroma (tumor of nerve)
mercury or lead poisoning
certain medications
Pain meds such as aspirin,nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
antibiotics: such as Ciprofloxacin, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol,erythromycin,tetracycline
Some Diuretics medications:
Som antidepressents
multiple sclerosis and other neurologic disorders
head injury
temporomandibular joint problesms
metabolic disorders:
thyroid disease
hyperlipidemia
vitamin B 12 deficiency
iron deficiency anemia
psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety
fibromyalgia
vasculitis and other collagen vascular diseases
Lyme disease
benzodiazepine (e.g. valium) withdrawal
nasal congestion

 

Having a facelift procedure should not cause any ringing of the ear, commonly known as tinnitus.  Occasionally, blood and cleaning solution could enter the ear canal during the procedure, but this would cause either muffled or a decrease in your hearing.  It would be beneficial to consult with an ear nose and throat physician (otolaryngologist) as you may also need to obtain a hearing test.

It would be very unusual for someone to have ringing in their ears as a result of the face lift procedure.  Occasionally patients will get some blood into their ear canals and have some decreased hearing following a face lift, but ringing is an unusual complaint.  I would recommend that your plastic surgeon refer you to an otolaryngologist with expertise in tinnitus.