For patients in South Africa

Tympanoplasty in Turkey from South Africa: eardrum repair, explained plainly

A tympanoplasty is an operation to repair a hole (perforation) in the eardrum. This page covers who it may suit, how long to stay in İzmir and the flight home. Pressure changes during a flight can affect a healing eardrum, so the surgeon, not the booking, decides when you can fly.

What the operation involves

A perforated eardrum can follow long-standing ear infections, an injury or other trauma. It may cause hearing loss, discharge or recurring infections. During a tympanoplasty an ENT surgeon closes the hole with a small tissue graft, using microsurgical techniques, so the eardrum can heal over it. If the tiny bones that carry sound (the ossicles) are damaged, the surgeon may repair or rebuild them in the same operation.

Some patients with chronic infection in the bone behind the ear need a mastoidectomy as well; the surgeon explains this at assessment. See also the ear treatments guide and the wider ENT surgery guide.

Who it may suit

• People with a perforation that has not healed on its own
• People with repeated infections or discharge linked to the perforation
• People with hearing loss caused by the damaged eardrum or hearing bones
• People fit enough for surgery, as judged at assessment

Send your hearing tests and doctor’s reports before you book. The surgeon may conclude that surgery is not right for you.

How long to stay, and the flight home

The first few days bring mild discomfort, fullness, some dizziness or slight bloody discharge, managed with medication. The dressing stays on, and you keep the ear dry, avoid blowing your nose and avoid strenuous activity. Around days four to seven the dressing is changed or removed at a check-up; you still avoid lifting, swimming and pressure changes.

Most patients are fit to fly five to seven days after surgery, but only once the surgeon has checked the ear and agreed. Cabin pressure changes put strain on a healing eardrum. Book a return ticket you can change, and follow the surgeon’s advice for the flight.

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Recovery: patients recover at Mandarin Grove, our recovery retreat near İzmir, between check-ups
• Time difference: İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa, which makes follow-up calls easy
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, so check with your scheme before you book; standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad

Recovery at home

Between weeks two and six the eardrum keeps healing, and hearing tends to improve as swelling settles and any packing dissolves or is removed. Most people return to work, but strenuous exercise and water in the ear wait until the surgeon agrees. Healing is usually complete by six to twelve weeks; swimming resumes once the surgeon confirms it.

Take home the operation note and hearing results, and arrange an ENT specialist in South Africa who can examine the ear and repeat a hearing test. Our team stays in touch by message and video call. Medical complications arising from the treatment, and any revision that becomes clinically necessary, are covered for one year by our treatment guarantee. See also the clinic facts page, the complaints page and our tympanoplasty page.

Risks

Tympanoplasty is a well-established operation, but it carries risks. These include temporary ear discomfort, dizziness, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), changes in taste, slow healing of the eardrum and hearing that does not improve. Less often, bleeding, infection, failure of the graft, injury to the facial nerve or a need for further surgery can occur. The surgeon explains your own risks at consultation.

What we will not do

We will not confirm surgery before an ENT surgeon has reviewed your ear and records, we will not promise a hearing result, and we will not let a flight booking override the surgeon’s decision about when it is safe to fly.

Frequently asked questions

How long after tympanoplasty can I fly home to South Africa?

Most patients are fit to fly five to seven days after surgery, with the surgeon’s approval. Pressure changes in flight can strain a healing eardrum, so book a changeable return ticket.

Will my hearing improve straight away?

Usually not. Hearing tends to improve gradually as swelling settles and packing dissolves, and healing typically takes six to twelve weeks.

When can I swim again?

Only after the surgeon confirms the eardrum has fully healed, typically six to twelve weeks after surgery. Keep water out of the ear until then.

What are the main risks of tympanoplasty?

Temporary discomfort, dizziness, tinnitus, taste changes or slow healing. Rarer risks include infection, graft failure, facial nerve injury or further surgery.

What decides the cost of tympanoplasty?

Whether the hearing bones also need repair, any extra tests, the number of nights in Turkey and what the package includes. A firm figure is only possible after an assessment.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.