Frequently Asked Questions

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Anyone 18yrs or older. 16 and 17 year olds are requested to attend with an adult for consent.

Ear wax build-up occurs when the amount of ear wax produced is greater than the amount of ear wax naturally removed from the ear. Several factors can contribute to the build-up of ear wax. Some people will naturally produce more ear wax than others. Those with narrow or damaged ear canals tend to exhibit ear wax build-up because the shape of the ear canal presents more difficulty in the natural removal cycle of ear wax. Similarly, inflammation of the ear canal can cause a build-up of ear wax. This inflammation can be caused by dermatitis of the ear, allergies or irritation from objects coming into contact with the ears.

Excess ear wax can cause hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. The build-up of ear wax can block the ear canal, this blockage reduces the amount of sound that passes into the inner ear - these disturbances to the passage of sound within the inner ear can cause hearing loss.

Ear wax removal removes this blockage and can restore normal functionality to the ear. However, these symptoms can be caused a result of other issues which is why we provide a full ear health check when ear wax is not found to be in excess during assessment.

At the Wax Removal Clinic we use microsuction. Microsuction gently removes excess ear wax from using a small suction device. Microsuction offers a non-invasive, gentle and efficient solution to earwax removal. 

Alternative methods such as ear irrigation (a more modern version of ear syringing) use water, saline solutions or oil to flush excess ear wax out of the ear. Whilst ear irrigation is also pain-free, it can be messy and can be more uncomfortable than microsuction.

Our choice of microsuction provides you with the safest and most comfortable ear wax removal service available. 

Once you book your appointment for ear wax removal, we will send you information regarding the steps required prior to the appointment. Typically, this involves the use of olive oil drops to soften the ear wax removal, this further improves the ease of the procedure.

We have professional indemnity and public liability insurance to do earwax removal, ear health checks and hearing screening procedures.  

Ear syringing  is suitable for some types of earwax removal, but it is generally accepted than ear wax removal by microsuction is the gold standard. Ear syringing uses a jet of water to remove the ear wax, and it is possible to damage the ear drum. Our method of earwax removal effectively removes the ear wax and is combined with a video camera to watch the procedure in detail as it happens. The ear wax is removed gently from the ear canal, and we do not go near the ear drum.

Ear syringing is still used in some cases and for some types of earwax removal, but not by us. We only use microsuction to remove ear wax.

Olive oil drops softens the earwax, allowing a more comfortable ear wax removal procedure. The olive oil is kind to the skin and we rarely see any  reactions to it.  Hydrogen peroxide drops such as Otex are quite harsh to the skin of the ear canal so making the ear wax removal less comfortable, it can also make parts of the ear red and inflamed. When doing ear wax removal after Otex its also more difficult as the wax and the ear canal skin are turned pale, and take on a similar shade. When removing ear wax after olive oil the wax and the ear canal are easily distinguishable, as the colours are quite different.

Earwax removal by microsuction can typically take between 30 to 45 minutes for the complete appointment. The actual ear wax removal usually takes between ten to fifteen minutes per ear. If there is a lot of earwax, it can take a longer of course. Sometimes the ear wax might come out in one whole piece, so can be quite quick.

Too much ear wax can cause an uncomfortable blocked feeling in the ears. The earwax can make the ears feel itchy. If the ear canal is completely blocked the ear wax can cause temporary hearing loss in that ear. Some people find that excessive ear wax can cause temporary tinnitus and dizziness although this is not very common.

Firstly we never attempt to remove 100% of the ear wax. Earwax has a function and helps keep the ear canal free of dead skin and hair cells. As the earwax migrates from the ear canal naturally, it brings with it this unwanted material. What we aim to do is to remove excessive ear wax, especially when it is causing discomfort, blocking the ear canal or stopping us from being able to check the ear drum. Sometimes we can't re move all the ear wax in one go. Typically this is due to the earwax being hard and dry. In a fully blocked ear the olive oil drops only act on the front surface of the ear wax, the deeper earwax remains dry and hard and will not come out. After the first procedure if the patient is then asked to continue with the olive oil drops and return in a week or so to remove the rest of the ear wax, we do not charge any additional fee.