Meatoplasty of ear canal

Need to know

• What happens during surgery? icon plus

  A meatoplasty is normally carried out under general anaesthetic. Once you're asleep, your surgeon will make small incisions in your ear canal, before removing or rearranging soft tissue from the meatus part of your ear, widening your ear canal in the process.
  
  At the end of the procedure, your surgeon will stitch the incisions and apply a bandage to your ear. The surgery can take between one and three hours.

• How to prepare icon plus

  Prior to the procedure, you'll need to provide your consultant with a full list of medication you are taking. They may ask you to stop taking some or all of these in the days leading up meatoplasty surgery. Tests you may undergo beforehand might include:

  • X-ray to assess bone and ear structure
  • Blood tests
  • ECG to check your heart structure and function

  As the procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, you may be advised not to eat or drink anything on the day.

• After surgery icon plus

  Immediately after surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room where you will wake up. Here, you will have your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels measured. You will have a bandage and other protective material around the ear you had surgery on. As a result you may experience slight hearing problems for a few days after, as well as some dizziness.
  
  When you are ready to leave hospital, please ensure you have arranged for somebody to drive you home. Your consultant will advise you on when you can get back to your normal routine, including work and exercise. They will also discuss a follow-up appointment with you.