Microsuction Ear Wax Removal: What to Expect at Your Appointment

The short answer

Ear wax is normal. It protects the ear canal, and most of the time it clears by itself. It becomes a problem when it builds up enough to block the canal, muffling your hearing, making your ear feel full, sometimes triggering tinnitus or affecting how a hearing aid works. When that happens, the safest and most comfortable way to clear it is microsuction: removal under direct magnified vision using a fine, gentle suction device.

At Clearly Hearing, microsuction is performed by qualified audiologists, with prices from £55 at East Dulwich and £75 at Soho. Same-day appointments are often possible.

Why microsuction rather than syringing

For decades the default was syringing: pushing water into the ear to flush wax out, often done blind. Most GP practices have moved away from it, and for good reason. Water pushed into a canal the clinician cannot fully see carries risks: wax pushed deeper, irritation of the canal, and in rare cases damage to the eardrum or infection.

Microsuction is different in two ways that matter:

1. The clinician can see. The ear canal is viewed under magnification throughout, so the wax is removed deliberately rather than flushed blind.
2. Nothing is pushed in. Suction draws the wax out. No water, no pressure towards the eardrum.

This is why microsuction is the method audiologists and ENT surgeons recommend. It is also suitable in situations where water should not enter the ear at all, such as a perforated eardrum or previous ear surgery, though you should always tell us about these when booking.

Where it is clinically appropriate, we can also offer irrigation: a modern, controlled version of water-based removal, very different from old-style syringing. Your audiologist will recommend the right method for your ears, not a one-method-fits-everyone approach.

Before your appointment: olive oil

The single most useful thing you can do before your appointment is soften the wax. Standard NHS advice is to use medical grade olive oil drops, two to three times a day, for two to three days beforehand. Lie on your side, put two to three drops into the upward-facing ear, and stay there for a few minutes so the oil works in.

Softened wax detaches from the canal wall more easily, which makes removal quicker, more comfortable and more likely to be complete in a single visit. Hard, dry wax can sometimes need a second appointment after further softening.

Two exceptions: do not use drops if your ear is painful or discharging, or if you know you have a perforated eardrum. In either case, mention it when you book and we will advise you, which may include seeing a GP first.

What happens in the room

A microsuction appointment at Clearly Hearing is unhurried and fully explained as we go:

1. History. We ask about your symptoms, previous wax problems, ear surgery, hearing aids and anything else relevant.
2. Examination. We look in both ears with a camera-equipped otoscope, and you can see what we see on the screen. Not every blocked-feeling ear is blocked with wax.
3. Removal. You sit upright and still while the audiologist works under magnification with a fine suction tip. The machine makes a noise, somewhat like a quiet vacuum, which surprises some people but does not hurt. Most removals take a few minutes per ear. You may feel a light tickle or brief coolness; tell us at any point if anything feels uncomfortable and we pause.
4. Check and explain. We examine the clear canal and eardrum afterwards, show you the result, and explain anything we have found.

If we find no wax

Sometimes the ear that feels blocked contains little or no wax, and the real cause is something else: fluid behind the eardrum, an infection, or a hearing change that has nothing to do with wax. In that case a consultation fee applies instead of the removal fee, and we use the appointment properly: a hearing check, an explanation of what we can see, and clear advice on what to do next, including a GP or ENT referral where needed.

We think that is the honest way to run a wax clinic. You should leave knowing more about your ears than when you arrived, whether or not there was wax to remove.

Aftercare

Most people hear noticeably better the moment the wax is out, and sometimes sounds feel briefly sharp or loud while your brain readjusts. That settles quickly. For the first day or so:

• Keep the ears dry where you can; avoid swimming for 24 hours.
• Expect a little sensitivity in the canal; it should fade within a day.
• Do not use cotton buds. They pack wax deeper and irritate the canal, which is often how the blockage formed in the first place.

If you are prone to recurrent wax build-up, ask us about a sensible maintenance routine. For some people a regular olive oil regime, or a planned wax check every 6 to 12 months, prevents the cycle of sudden blockages.

Contact us, or your GP, if you develop pain, discharge or a sudden drop in hearing after any wax removal procedure. These are uncommon but should never be ignored.

When not to have wax removed, and when to see a GP first

Wax removal is a clinical procedure, and there are times when it is not the right first step. See your GP before booking if you have:

• Ear pain, especially with fever or feeling unwell, which suggests infection.
• Discharge or blood from the ear.
• Sudden hearing loss that came on over hours or a day or two. This can be a medical emergency and needs urgent assessment, not a wax appointment.
• Dizziness or vertigo alongside the blocked feeling.
• A recent head injury involving the ear.

If you attend and we see any of these signs, we will not proceed. We will explain what we have seen and direct you to the right care, because removing wax over an infection or a perforation helps nobody.

Booking

Ear wax removal is available at our East Dulwich clinic (inside Oru Space, Lordship Lane, open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 20:00) from £55, and at our Soho clinic from £75. Book online through our portal or call 020 7458 4525. If your blocked ear is affecting a hearing aid, bring the aid with you: we can check it once the canal is clear.