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Ear Surgery - Surgical Recovery
Length of surgery
Operation takes 60-90 minutes for both sides. This can be done under local or general anaesthetic in the older patient and always under general anaesthetic in the child.
Nights in hospital
Can be a day case or one night stay.
Dressings and stitches
You will have stitches and gauze dressings on the incisions. A large head bandage will be applied that must stay on for the first five days. This is removed at day 5 and the stitches out at day 10. A bandage or sweatband should be worn at night for 6 weeks once the large head bandage is removed. This is to protect the ears when you roll over in bed.
Postoperative instructions and recovery
Day 1 You should be taking it very easy! Either relax in the hospital or at home.
Day 2-5 You can be up and about but you may be in some discomfort. The head bandage needs to stay on during this period.
5-14 Your stitches and head bandage will be removed and most of the swelling and bruising will settle over this next week. You will be feeling much better from here onwards. You can start exercising gently and build it up over the next 10 days.
Week 3 onwards you will be nearly back to normal.
Then see Mr. McCulley at 3 months. NB There are no charges for any follow up appointment relating to your surgery.
Time off work and socializing
Allow 1 week. People vary in recovery. Most patients are very comfortable at a few days k and it is only the head bandage that may make you feel uncomfortable about going to work. There is some bruising for about two weeks.
Time to exercise
Walking a distance at 1-3 days, gentle swimming by 10-14 days (if fully healed). Strenuous exercise (aerobics etc) should be avoided for 3 weeks, contact sports (rugby etc) for 8 weeks.
Driving
Although you may feel able to drive by 3-5 days you need to be completely free of pain and have no restriction of vision to be covered by your insurance. This may be in your second week.
Final outcome
Although most of your result will be noticeable early it will continue to improve over the first three months as all swelling disappears.
Follow up
Wound check and removal bandage at day 5 and sutures at day 9-10.
