Will Swimming Affect The Ear After Otoplasty?

Otoplasty is a term that refers to cosmetic ear surgery which can help correct deformities or irregularities in your ears.

While your plastic surgeon will give you a list of do’s and don’ts so that you can avoid injuring yourself post-surgery, you might want some clarification on certain things, such as whether or not you can swim. If you’re an active person who likes nothing more than to jump into a swimming pool and do a few laps, it can feel like torture to slow down. The best thing you can do after otoplasty is to take it easy for a while and to slowly and steadily build your way back up to an active lifestyle post-surgery. By doing so, you’ll be able to avoid unwanted complications such as potentially tearing out sutures.

While specific questions about when you can get on with your life post-surgery should be left to your plastic surgeon, one word of advice is to realize that the length of time will depend on the extent of the procedure. What follows are some things to consider if you’re wondering if swimming will affect your ear after otoplasty.

What was Done?

Again, the length of time you’ll need to wait after otoplasty to go swimming, or to participate in any other energy intensive activities will depend on the type of work done during the surgery. Some surgeons will advise that you avoid vigorous activities, such as swimming, for at least a couple of weeks following the surgery. The reason for this recommendation is that you could, if you go swimming too soon, develop a hematoma or a seroma, which refers to fluid buildup beneath the skin of the ear. Treating seromas and hematomas can be hard, so it’s best to bide your time post-otoplasty surgery and heal properly.

Risk of Ear Injury

It goes without saying that you will want to avoid any activity that could subject your ear to possible injury. With this in mind, you should aim for a one-month break for non-contact sports, but up to a three-month break for contact sports that present an elevated risk for ear injury.

Can swimming affect the ear after otoplasty? The answer is a definite yes, but if you follow your plastic surgeon’s advice and recommendations, you’ll know exactly how to proceed whether it relates to swimming or any other sport. The healing process may take longer than you would like, but for best otoplasty results, you need to be patient and allow your body to get back to normal.