What happens at an ear wax removal appointment

An ear wax removal appointment is usually short and straightforward. You answer a few questions about your ears, the clinician looks inside them, and if there is wax to remove they clear it with microsuction, irrigation or small instruments before looking again to make sure all is well. Most people are in and out within half an hour, and plenty notice their hearing is clearer before they have left the room.

Before your appointment

Check whether the clinic wants you to use drops first. Many ask for olive oil drops for a few days before irrigation, and some ask for them before microsuction if your wax is likely to be hard. Our guide on how to use ear drops shows the technique. Don't be alarmed if your ear feels more blocked after a few days of drops: softened wax can swell a little before it moves.

It also helps to have a few things ready. The clinician will ask about most of them, and it is easier to answer when you aren't trying to remember on the spot.

If you are booked for irrigation, you'll have a towel or cape over your shoulder, but a drip can still escape, so avoid wearing anything you'd hate to get wet at the collar. Long hair is easier to keep out of the way if you tie it back.

The questions you'll be asked

The clinician starts with a short history. It isn't a formality: some of your answers decide which method is safe for you. Expect questions like these:

• What symptoms you have, in which ear, and for how long
• Whether you've ever had a perforated eardrum, grommets or ear surgery
• Whether you've had a recent ear infection, pain or discharge
• Whether you've had wax removed before, and how it went
• Which medicines you take, and about your general health

You'll usually be asked to agree to the procedure before anything goes into your ear. If your answers suggest an infection or another problem, the clinician may recommend seeing a GP before any wax is removed.

This is also the moment to mention anything that worries you. A very sensitive ear, dread of the noise, neck or back pain that makes tilting your head awkward, a tendency to faint: all of these change how the clinician goes about it. ENT UK suggests that people who are prone to fainting lie down for microsuction.

Looking inside your ears

Next comes the examination. The clinician looks in both ears, even if only one is bothering you, using a handheld otoscope, a head-mounted light with magnifying loupes, a microscope or a video otoscope that shows the inside of your ear on a screen. If there is a screen, ask to see it. It is oddly satisfying to see the wax before and the clear canal after.

They are looking at how much wax there is, how hard it is, where it sits and whether they can see your eardrum. Sometimes there is hardly any wax and the problem lies elsewhere. A good clinician won't remove wax for the sake of it in that situation. They'll explain what they can see and tell you where to go next, which may be your GP or a hearing assessment.

How the wax is removed

The method depends on your ears, your history and what the clinic offers. Our comparison of microsuction and irrigation explains the differences in more detail.

If you're having microsuction

You sit in a reclining chair or lie on a couch with your head turned to one side. The clinician guides a fine suction tube into the canal while watching through magnification. It is loud, a bit like a small vacuum cleaner right beside your ear, with the occasional squeal as a piece of wax goes up the tube. You might feel a cool draught, a tickle that makes you cough, or a moment of dizziness. ENT UK says it can take anything from a short time to around 20 minutes, depending on how blocked the ear is. Read more about how microsuction works.

If you're having irrigation

Irrigation is done sitting upright. You'll have a towel over your shoulder and hold a small bowl under your ear. The clinician gently pulls the outer ear back to straighten the canal and places the nozzle at the entrance. Warm water flows in and runs out into the bowl, bringing softened wax with it, and they stop every so often to look in the ear. It is quieter than suction and should feel warm, not cold. Read more about ear irrigation.

If instruments are needed

For wax near the entrance of the canal, or a stubborn flake, the clinician may use a small curette or hook, often alongside suction. You'll feel light pressure or scraping, not pain.

Checking your ears afterwards

Once the wax is out, the clinician looks again at the canal and eardrum. They'll usually tell you what they found, whether your eardrum looks healthy and whether anything needs following up.

Many people notice at once how loud everything sounds: their own voice, the rustle of a coat, traffic outside. That settles as you get used to it. A slightly tender ear, or mild dizziness for a short while, is also normal.

Hard, long-standing wax doesn't always come out in one visit. If some remains, you may be asked to use drops for a few days and come back. ENT UK notes that some people need their ears cleaned more than once, and it doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.

Aftercare advice varies. ENT UK says you don't usually need to keep your ears dry after microsuction, but you may be told otherwise if your canal is sore or you've had irrigation. Our aftercare guide explains what is normal over the next few days.

Questions worth asking before you leave

A couple of minutes at the end can save you another appointment later. These are the questions most worth asking:

1. Was all the wax removed from both ears? If not, ask what to do next and whether a return visit is included.
2. Did my eardrums look healthy? It is useful to know, particularly if you've had ear problems before.
3. Why do you think I build up wax? Narrow canals, hearing aids and cotton buds are common reasons, and some can be changed.
4. Should I use drops regularly? For some people, occasional drops help stop wax building up again.
5. How often should I come back? Our guide to how often to have ear wax removed can help you plan.
6. Who do I contact if I have a problem? Keep the clinic's number handy for the next few days.

When to get help after your appointment

Problems after wax removal are uncommon, and most mild soreness settles within a day or two. ENT UK advises contacting the clinic that treated you first if something doesn't feel right. Some symptoms need a doctor, though.

If you haven't booked yet, our guide on how to choose an ear wax removal clinic covers what to ask beforehand, and you can compare ear wax removal clinics or find ear wax removal in your town.