There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. In the elderly, mild to severe confusion may occur which can last from hours to weeks after general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your doctor. A local anesthetic may not numb the area enough and you may feel some minor discomfort. Also, in rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the drug used in this type of anesthesia.
Local anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia.
After the operation, you may be dizzy or have ringing in your ear. If a nerve in your ear is bruised or damaged, you may have a limited sense of taste or a metallic taste on your tongue. Your hearing may not significantly improve. You may have infection or bleeding. You may need surgery again in the future to tighten the artificial stapes and improve your hearing.