I've had a plugged ear since my mini facelift 10 months ago. Will this clear up in time?

Question

I had a neck lift, that turned into a mini mid face lift 10 months ago and I've had a clogged right ear for the past 2 months. Feels like there's fluid in my ear. I hear crackling when I speak or swallow and I've been suffering from vertigo for one month now. Will this clear up over time?

Avron Lipschitz, MD · Answer

Hearing loss after facelift can occur due to blood crusting in the ear canal or due to swelling of the ear canal. Notify your plastic surgeon and clean the ear with half strength hydrogen peroxide and a Q tip. If you cannot clear the debris then a visit to your ENT doctor is recommended where an inspection and irrigation of the ear canal can be performed to clear out the debris.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Ten months is a long time to have an external canal issue after a facelift but in medicine never say never.  I strongly recommend getting assessed by a physician.  If the the canal is impacted by wax, this can be removed and may resolve your symptoms.  If your canal is clear, recommend a referral to an otolaryngologist for a more detailed assessment.

Cory S. Goldberg, BSc, MD, FRCS(C) · Answer

One possibility is that during your facelift some blood drips into your ear and formed a clot, which can impair hearing. This often resolves spontaneously within a few months, but can persist. The other possibility is that you had a buildup of wax in your ear and the surgeon inserted a cotton ball plug during surgery to prevent blood from dripping into your ear, unintentionally pushing the wax against your eardrum. Either way, it sounds like there is something in your ear and an examination of your ear canal and eardrum using an otoscope by your family physician or your surgeon would be the appropriate next step.

Romy Ahluwalia, MD · Answer

In a normal he performed Minifacelift there really are only two reasons why you’d have decreased hearing. One is swelling in the ear canal which is unlikely given the time frame. And the other is plugging usually from dried blood or other material such as wax. It’s best to have an otolaryngologist/ENT doctor have a look in the ear and flush it out.

I've had a plugged ear since my mini facelift 10 months ago. Will this clear up in time?

Answers (4)

Answer: Likely plugged

Answer: Likely plugged

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Everything you need to know about Facelift

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I've had a plugged ear since my mini facelift 10 months ago. Will this clear up in time?

Answers (4)

Answer: Likely plugged

Answer: Likely plugged

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.