Tympanoplasty: Eardrum Repair Surgery, Recovery, and Results
Updated: 6 days ago
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026 · How we review
Quick Answer: What is tympanoplasty?
Tympanoplasty is surgery that repairs a hole in the eardrum using a small graft of the person's own tissue or synthetic material. It is usually advised when a perforation has not healed after two to three months. Most people go home the same day, recover in about two weeks and regain full hearing over three months or more. [1]
What the research says
Most eardrum repairs close successfully. A meta-analysis of 214 studies covering 26,097 patients found an average eardrum closure rate of 86.6% at 12 months; holes smaller than half the eardrum closed 6.1% more often, and children had a 5.8% higher failure rate than adults. (Tan et al., Otology & Neurotology, 2016) [3]
Cartilage grafts take more often than fascia grafts. Across 37 studies and 3,606 patients with chronic middle ear infection, cartilage grafts integrated in 92% of ears versus 82% for temporalis fascia, while hearing gains were similar with both. (Jalali et al., Laryngoscope, 2017) [4]
Going through the ear canal is quicker with the same results. A review of 43 studies and 3,712 patients found endoscopic (through-the-canal) repair took about 20 minutes less and caused less pain than microscope-based surgery, with no difference in graft success or hearing. (Wang et al., Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2024) [5]
Key takeaways
Tympanoplasty patches a hole in the eardrum to improve hearing and block germs from the middle ear. [1]
It is considered when a torn eardrum has not healed on its own after two to three months. [1]
An ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon performs it under general anesthesia, usually as same-day surgery. [1]
It succeeds for about 90% of people, depending on the size and location of the hole. [1][2]
Recovery takes 10 days to two weeks, but full hearing can take three months or longer to return. [1]
No nose blowing for at least three weeks and no flying or swimming for about a month. [1]
What is tympanoplasty and how does the eardrum work?
Tympanoplasty is surgery to repair a hole (perforation) in the eardrum. The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates the ear canal from the middle ear. [1]
When sound waves hit the eardrum, it vibrates and passes those vibrations to the tiny middle-ear bones, making sounds loud enough to hear. A hole stops the eardrum from vibrating properly, so hearing becomes weaker. [1]
A hole also leaves the middle ear open to germs. That can lead to repeated ear infections and fluid draining from the ear. [1]
Who needs tympanoplasty?
People who need tympanoplasty usually have an eardrum hole that has not healed after two to three months of watchful care. Both adults and children can have the surgery. [1]
Common causes of eardrum damage include:
Cause | How it damages the eardrum |
Long-term middle ear infection | Pressure and inflammation tear the membrane |
Injury | Pushing an object too deep while cleaning the ear can puncture it |
Infection that keeps returning | Repeated damage stops the hole from closing |
Small tears often heal by themselves, sometimes with help from ear drops or antibiotics. Surgery is the next step when healing does not happen, to prevent hearing loss, more infections or ongoing ear drainage. [1]
How should you prepare for tympanoplasty?
Preparing for tympanoplasty starts with an ear exam and hearing tests so the surgeon can plan the repair. [1]
Before surgery, your ENT surgeon will:
Look at the eardrum with an otoscope — a lighted tool that shows the size and position of the hole, and whether the eardrum is inflamed or leaking fluid.
Order tests — usually a hearing test and tympanometry, which checks how well the eardrum moves.
Review your medical history and the medicines you take. [1]
You will also be told:
When to stop eating and drinking before surgery
Which medicines to keep taking or pause
What help you need at home — including someone to drive you home afterward [1]
How is tympanoplasty performed?
Tympanoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, so you are fully asleep. Antibiotics may also be given to lower the chance of infection. [1]
Which approach does the surgeon use?
Approach | Where the surgeon works | Incision | How common |
Transcanal | Through the ear canal with a thin, flexible scope and instruments | None needed to reach the eardrum | Most common |
Postauricular | Behind the ear | Curved cut behind the crease of the outer ear | Common option |
Endaural | Above the ear canal | Small cut above the ear canal | Least common |
How is the graft placed?
The hole is closed with a graft — usually tissue taken from your own body, and sometimes synthetic material. [1]
Collect the graft. The surgeon takes connective tissue covering the muscle near the temple, or cartilage from the small bump in front of the ear.
Place the graft. The tissue is positioned under the whole eardrum or just under the hole.
Hold it in place. Dissolving foam packing goes under and over the graft while new eardrum tissue grows. The foam breaks down by itself.
Close up. Any incisions are closed and the area is bandaged. [1]
How long does tympanoplasty take?
Tympanoplasty takes anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. The time depends on how much damage is inside the ear, the size of the hole and the technique used. [1]
Surgery takes longer when extra repair is needed:
What are the benefits and risks of tympanoplasty?
The main benefits of tympanoplasty are better hearing and fewer ear infections, because the patch seals the middle ear from germs. [1]
Benefits | Possible risks |
Repairs the damaged eardrum | Graft failure — the patch does not fix the problem (most common complication) |
Can help restore hearing | A new hole forming in the eardrum |
Stops germs entering the middle ear | Hearing getting worse |
Reduces infections and ear drainage | — |
Complications are uncommon. Tympanoplasty successfully treats about 90% of people, although results depend on the size and location of the hole. [1][2]
What is tympanoplasty recovery like?
Tympanoplasty recovery usually takes 10 days to two weeks, by which time discomfort and side effects have faded. Full hearing can take three months or longer to come back. [1]
Most people go home on the day of surgery. Some stay one night in hospital so the care team can check healing. [1]
In the first few days, it is normal to notice:
Slight bloody discharge
Mild ear pain or pressure
Crackling or popping sounds in the ear
Muffled hearing, which can last up to six weeks [1]
Pain can be moderate for the first few days. Most people manage it with over-the-counter pain relievers — tell your doctor if these do not help. [1]
Time after surgery | What usually happens |
Day of surgery | Home the same day for most people |
First few days | Mild pain, slight bloody discharge, popping sounds |
3–5 days | Children can return to school if they feel well |
10 days–2 weeks | Discomfort and side effects settle |
2–3 weeks | First follow-up visit to check the eardrum |
About 2 weeks | Children can return to PE class |
About 1 month | Flying and swimming usually allowed again |
2–3 months | Hearing test may be repeated |
3+ months | Full hearing typically returns |
How do you care for your ear after tympanoplasty?
Caring for your ear after tympanoplasty mostly means keeping it dry and avoiding anything that raises pressure inside it. Always follow your surgeon's own instructions. [1]
Do | Don't |
Take antibiotic tablets or drops exactly as prescribed, until told to stop | Don't blow your nose for at least three weeks |
Place a cotton ball in the ear if there is blood | Don't sneeze with your mouth closed — keep it open |
Keep the ear dry; when showering, use a cotton ball coated in petroleum jelly | Don't shower or wash your hair in the first few days if your surgeon advises against it |
Rest and keep activity light | Don't lift more than 10 pounds (about 4.5 kg) for the period your surgeon sets |
Keep children out of PE class for about two weeks | Don't fly or swim for about a month |
When should you call a doctor after tympanoplasty?
You should call your doctor after tympanoplasty if you notice signs of infection, bleeding or nerve irritation. Your first check-up is usually two to three weeks after surgery. [1]
Contact your doctor if you have:
A change in taste or numbness in your face
Pus or fresh, bright red blood from the ear or incision
Ringing in the ears
Fever, or warmth or redness around the incision
Hearing or ear pain that is getting worse [1]
Get emergency care if you have:
A fast heartbeat
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Dizziness or problems with balance [1]
Tympanoplasty at a glance
Question | Answer |
What it fixes | A hole (perforation) in the eardrum |
Who performs it | An ENT surgeon (otolaryngologist) |
Anesthesia | General — you are asleep |
Operation time | 30 minutes to several hours |
Hospital stay | Usually same day; sometimes one night |
Success rate | About 90%, depending on hole size and location |
Back to normal | 10 days to 2 weeks |
Full hearing | 3 months or longer |
Conclusion
Tympanoplasty is a well-established way to close an eardrum hole that will not heal on its own. It can bring back clearer hearing and stop the cycle of infections and drainage, and it works for about nine in ten people. Recovery is short, but the healing eardrum needs protection: keep it dry, don't blow your nose, and skip flying and swimming until your surgeon clears you. If your hearing hasn't improved months after an ear injury or infection, ask an ENT specialist whether tympanoplasty is right for you.
Want to understand your ears better? Explore more of our ear and hearing guides — from stapedectomy and cochlear implants to bone-anchored hearing aids and inner ear infections — and follow Rinnit on Instagram and YouTube for clear, doctor-reviewed health explainers.
For a plain-language overview from a government health library, see this eardrum repair guide, and for the specialty society's surgical criteria, see the clinical indicators for tympanoplasty.
FAQ
What is tympanoplasty?
Tympanoplasty is surgery that repairs a hole in the eardrum with a graft of tissue or synthetic material. It aims to restore hearing and stop germs from reaching the middle ear.
When is tympanoplasty needed for a ruptured eardrum?
Tympanoplasty is usually needed when a ruptured eardrum has not healed after two to three months. Many small tears close on their own or with ear drops or antibiotics, so surgery is reserved for holes that stay open.
Is tympanoplasty a major surgery?
Tympanoplasty is considered a major surgery because it is done under general anesthesia. Even so, most people go home on the same day.
How long does tympanoplasty recovery take?
Tympanoplasty recovery takes about 10 days to two weeks for pain and side effects to settle. Full hearing can take three months or longer to return, and muffled hearing may last up to six weeks.
What is the success rate of tympanoplasty?
Tympanoplasty successfully treats about 90% of people. Success depends on the size and location of the hole, and graft failure is the most common complication.
What should you not do after tympanoplasty?
After tympanoplasty, don't blow your nose for at least three weeks, and don't fly or swim for about a month. Also avoid heavy lifting, keep the ear dry, and sneeze with your mouth open.
When can a child go back to school after tympanoplasty?
A child can usually go back to school three to five days after tympanoplasty if they feel well. They should sit out PE class for about two weeks.
When is tympanoplasty an emergency?
Seek emergency care after tympanoplasty for a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, or dizziness and balance problems. Call your doctor for fever, pus, fresh bleeding, facial numbness, taste changes or worsening hearing.
Will my hearing improve right after tympanoplasty?
Hearing often sounds muffled at first because of packing in the ear. Full hearing can take three months or longer to come back as the ear heals.
Can you fly after tympanoplasty?
Ask your surgeon before flying. Pressure changes can strain the healing graft, so many surgeons advise waiting a few weeks.
Related Reading
Ruptured Eardrum (Eardrum Membrane Rupture): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment explains why eardrums tear, how they heal and when treatment is needed.
Myringoplasty: How Eardrum Repair Surgery Works, Recovery, and Risks describes the simpler graft surgery that patches a hole in the eardrum.
Mastoidectomy: What It Is, Why It's Done, and What Recovery Looks Like explains surgery to clear infection from the bone behind the ear.
Hearing Loss: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options covers the types and causes of hearing loss and how it is treated.
References
Cleveland Clinic. Tympanoplasty: Surgery Details & Recovery. Cleveland Clinic. Last updated May 22, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24406-tympanoplasty
Brar S, Watters C, Winters R. Tympanoplasty. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Last updated July 4, 2023. PMID 33351422. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565863/
Tan HE, Santa Maria PL, Eikelboom RH, et al. Type I Tympanoplasty Meta-Analysis: A Single Variable Analysis. Otol Neurotol. 2016;37(7):838-846. PMID 27273405. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000001099
Jalali MM, Motasaddi M, Kouhi A, et al. Comparison of cartilage with temporalis fascia tympanoplasty: A meta-analysis of comparative studies. Laryngoscope. 2017;127(9):2139-2148. PMID 27933630. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.26451
Wang TC, Shih TC, Chen CK, et al. Endoscopic Versus Microscopic Type I Tympanoplasty: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024;170(3):675-693. PMID 38140741. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.597
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general education and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Always talk to your doctor or ENT specialist about your own symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.
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