microsuction

Everyone produces ear wax — it's your body's natural way of protecting and cleaning the ear canal. Usually, it clears itself. However, some people are more prone to build-up. This can be due to conditions like eczema, which causes dry skin to mix with wax, or jobs like construction, where extra debris enters the ears. Narrow ear canals or naturally producing more wax can also lead to blockages, resulting in reduced hearing and a feeling of fullness.

 

Using cotton buds to clean your ears often makes things worse, pushing wax further down and causing impaction.

 

Microsuction is considered the gold standard for ear wax removal. It’s a safe, gentle, and usually painless method that uses a small suction device under magnification to remove wax with precision. Side effects are rare but can include brief dizziness due to changes in temperature, or, very rarely, minor trauma if sudden movement occurs.

 

In some cases, where wax is close to the eardrum, a small amount of water may be used alongside microsuction. Please let your clinician know if you cannot have water in your ears.

 

Before treatment, we’ll complete a full pre-assessment and consent form. You’ll also get to see before and after images using our video otoscope — so you can see the difference for yourself.