What timing! I just returned from Rush North Shore where my 3 year old had eartubes put in this morning. He also had his adenoids taken out, which made it a bit longer and a little more difficult than just the tubes. But even with that, he was wheeled into surgery at 7:30AM and was home playing and laughing by 1pm. He was a trooper.
We have been reading a book called "Chris Gets Ear Tubes" by Betty Pace, that we found at the library. And, while it is not a caldecott award winner, it explains pretty accurately how the day goes when you go to have ear tubes put in. The ear tube insertion only takes about 15 minutes if they are not doing anything else. We were with him right until they wheeled him into surgery and were brought back to see him within minutes of him waking up.
The tubes will usually fall out themselves and you may not even notice it. In some cases, they may not fall out on their own and may have to be taken out by the Doctor. But I think the younger kids usually fall out because they are growing faster. Also, they may need to have it done agian if they outgrow the tubes and still need them. The change in hearing is amazing and it is immediate. My son now complains that the toilet flushes too loud (he had so much fluid in his ears he had never really heard it before).
It is absolutely worth doing it. Just try and explain how quick and easy it is to your child, the book might help.It also mught help if your daughter could meet or know about another little one who had it done. I think it also helped my son knowing that other kids he knew tubes put in.
Good luck!