Is it possible to have a ruptured eardrum after a lower face and neck lift?

Question

I had a lower face and neck lift about one month ago. When I went into surgery my hearing was fine, but after surgery my hearing was muffled and I couldn't hear anything. When I asked the PS about it, she said it was probably blood or fluid in my ears. On my 10 day check up the PA scraped my eardrum and told me to clean my ears with peroxide, which I did. I went to an ENT and was told I had a reputured eardrum. Have you heard of this happening before? Could something have gone wrong during surgery

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

hello 4everAus Sorry about your ear, while complications from this safe procedure are rare, the risk is still extant and will be discussed with you thoroughly by your PS. #ears #post-op

Scott K. Thompson, MD · Answer

Your surgeon probably mentioned this to you, but it is very common to experience decreased hearing following facelift surgery due to blood in the ear canal.  When this problem does occur, it is usually self limiting and improves within 1-2 weeks following surgery.  If you are continuing to experience decreased hearing and have been diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum, the eardrum rupture, rather than blood in the ear canal is the more likely explanation for your hearing loss.  This isn't a common problem following facelift surgery but is certainly possible either from the examination that was performed by the PA or even possibly during surgery with an earplug or something (although this is unlikely).  In any case, the eardrum should repair itself within a few weeks, and everything should return to normal.  Good luck!

Mark Loury, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Sorry to hear about your ear.  It is normal to get blood down into the ear canal during facelift. Oftentimes a piece of cotton is placed to prevent it. It's possible for dried blood to affect the hearing immediately afterward. If the cotton were placed in too far or a suction used to clean out the blood a perforation could occur. The PA scraping the drum could also have caused it. Fortunately over 90% heal without surgery. Best wishes.

Is it possible to have a ruptured eardrum after a lower face and neck lift?

Answers (3)

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