Can you go swimming with permanent sutures in your ear?

Unless you have had a previous issue with your incisions, if the wounds are sealed, the risk of infection overall is low. If you have had issues, then the fixating sutures often can be removed to prevent further issues. Best wishes. 

Thanks for your question. The sutures used in otoplasty surgery are all placed beneath the skin and don't communicate with the external environment. Because of this you should be able to go swimming once everything has healed. I generally tell my patients that they can return to swimming at 6 weeks after surgery, but I would suggest you ask your plastic surgeon directly. All the best. 

Yes, generally speaking, patients who have had otoplasty surgery (and have permanent sutures in place)  areable to swim and get their ears wet.  Given your history, there may be something else going on; suture removal may be indicated. Your plastic surgeon will be your best resource when it comes to more specific assessment/advice. Best wishes.

The sutures used to fold the cartilage back are placed under the skin.  When the skin from the incision has healed the risk of infection should be very low.  I would normally allow patients to return to swimming at 2 weeks.  If you are getting infections recurrently that are problematic then it may be worth considering removal of the sutures.

The permanent sutures used in otoplasty are placed under your skin.  Once the skin is healed, the risk of infection is dramatically reduced.  Although you should ask your plastic surgeon her/his opinion, I allow my patients to swim one year after surgery without any precautions.

Thank you for your question.
Although it seems related to when you go swimming, if the skin is sealed over your operative sites, I do not think that bacteria is somehow penetrating and infecting your ear surgery sites. Bacteria levels in properly treated swimming pools is quite low as well. Your surgery was quite some time ago and I would expect everything to be sealed.
It is possible you have a low grade, chronic infection around your sutures or in the area. Sometimes it is helpful to remove the sutures and clean out any chronically infected soft tissues.
I think it is best if you return to your surgeon for an evaluation as I think he or she may be able to offer you a solution for these recurrent infections.
Good luck!

Since it's been so long since your surgery, your best bet is to probably have the sutures removed in order to prevent further infections. At this point the sutures shouldn't be necessary since there should be enough scar tissue to hold everything in place.