In over 90 percent of cases, the tympanoplasty procedure is successful and a hearing test is performed about two months after the operation. Failure of tympanoplasty can occur either from an immediate infection during the healing period, from water getting into the ear, or from displacement of the graft after surgery. After three to four months, water can be allowed to enter the ear and the patient can even return to swimming. If ossicular reconstruction is necessary in the tympanoplasty, then an overnight stay is sometimes recommended. There can be imbalance and dizziness immediately after this procedure.
Dizziness is uncommon in operations that only involve the eardrum itself.
Besides failure of the graft, there may be further hearing loss due to unexplained factors during the healing process. This occurs in less than five percent of individuals undergoing the operation. A total hearing loss from tympanoplasty surgery is rare. This occurs in less than one percent of operations. Postoperative dizziness and imbalance can be present for about a week after surgery and are usually very mild.