When You Can Actually Be Seen
A blocked ear is not an emergency, but it is genuinely miserable, and most people want it dealt with this week rather than next month. These are the appointment types available and where they are offered.
Ear Wax Removal by Microsuction
From £65 for one ear, £95 for both. No ear drops needed beforehand.
Ear wax removal by microsuction uses gentle suction under a microscope to lift wax out of the ear canal, so the clinician can see exactly what they are doing throughout. It is quick, it does not involve water, and you do not need to soften the wax with drops first, which is the part most people are surprised by.
Also known as: microsuction, earwax removal, earwax extraction.
- Microsuction, not Syringing
- No Drops Needed First
- Performed by an Audiologist.
- One Ear or Both
- Assessment First, at £25
- Ten Clinics
Book ear wax removal Without The Wait
Blocked Ears Cleared, Usually in One Appointment
Wax is supposed to be there. It traps dust, keeps the canal from drying out and moves outwards on its own. The problem is only ever that too much has built up, and the usual culprits are hearing aids, earbuds, cotton buds pushing it inwards, or simply a narrow canal.
When it does block, it is more disruptive than people expect. Muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, ringing, itching, sometimes mild dizziness or a cough. Most of it resolves the moment the wax comes out. What it should not involve is you attempting it yourself, because cotton buds, ear candles and hairpins account for a good share of the perforated eardrums seen in clinic.
Why patients choose OUR EAR WAX REMOVAL
Not all ear wax removal is the same procedure, and the difference is clinical rather than cosmetic. Microsuction lets the clinician watch the canal while they work, which is exactly why it suits ears that syringing cannot safely touch. If you have had a perforated eardrum, grommets, ear surgery or a history of infections, that distinction decides whether you can be treated at all.
- Microsuction under a microscope, so the clinician sees the canal throughout.
- No water, which is what makes it suitable for ears syringing cannot treat.
- No pre-treatment with drops, so you can book and come.
- Performed by an audiologist, not delegated to a general list.
- Assessment priced separately at £25, so an examination that finds nothing is not billed as a removal.
- One ear or both, priced separately.
- Safe with a history of perforation, where syringing is not.
- Same week appointments at ten clinics.
Appointments ACROSS OUR TEN CLINICS
Same week Ear Wax Removal.
Most clinics can see you within a few days, and same-day slots come up regularly because ear wax appointments are short. Call the clinic directly and ask what is free today rather than booking the first slot the calendar offers you.
Saturday Ear Wax Removal
Saturday clinics run at Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and London. Sutton Coldfield opens 9am to 1pm on Saturdays and 8am to 7pm on weekdays, which covers most people either side of work.
Walk In and Same Day
Where a clinic has capacity, you can be seen without booking ahead, though it is worth phoning first so you are not making the trip on spec.
How to book EAR WAX REMOVAL
Step 1
Book online or call.
No referral, and no need to be registered with us.
Step 2
Assessment
Both ears were examined, and a clear answer was given on whether there was wax to remove.
Step 3
Microsuction
Gentle suction under a microscope. You will hear it, and it is louder than it is uncomfortable.
Step 4
Checked again
The canal and the eardrum are looked at once the wax is out, which is often the first proper view either of you has had.
Step 5
Advice on keeping it clear
Including what not to put in your ears.
Why choose Private Medical Clinic for EAR WAX REMOVAL
- A CQC registered clinic, not a room above a shop. Private Medical Clinic operates as Khela Medical Limited and is registered with the Care Quality Commission.
- A GP team in the same building. If the blocked ear turns out to be an infection, a perforation or sudden hearing loss, there is a doctor on site rather than a referral back to your own surgery.
- An honest answer when there is no wax. Roughly a proportion of blocked ears are not wax at all, and being told so is a legitimate outcome of the appointment.
- Ten clinics in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, London, Newcastle, Leicester, Bournemouth, Oxford, Derby, Manchester and Cambridge.
- No upselling. Ear wax removal is a thirty minute procedure with three prices, all published above.
- Rated 4.8 from 806 patient reviews for fast, professional and personalised care.
Meet our Clinicians
Ear wax removal is performed by an audiologist, working alongside our GP team where a symptom needs a wider assessment.
What our Patients Say
Rated ★4.5 by 171+ patients for fast, professional, and personalised care.
- Verified
Exceptional Dr totally understanding…
Exceptional Dr totally understanding totally listened and got the pain. - Verified
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Fast appointment, consultation was not rushed. - Verified
Good and efficient service
I got an appointment immediately on a Saturday. The doctor, Priya, called right on time and was thorough. - Verified
First time coming to the private
First time coming to the private medical clinic in Oxford. Starting with such a warm welcome and professional care.
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Ear wax removal ACROSS THE UK
Microsuction is available at CQC-registered clinics across the UK. Choose your nearest.
Ongoing care with a Membership Plan
Experienced private doctors providing personalised care across all specialties.
Individual Plan
£79
Per User/month, billed annually
Affordable Healthcare For Individuals
- Full plan for 1 person
- 10 free yearly consultations
- Complete health screen annually
- 50% off on our Super Screen bloods
- Priority access to appointments
- Free prescriptions & letters/referrals
- Exclusive, direct access to a clinician
Couples Plan
Popular£149
Per User/month, billed annually
Full Benefits For Two People
- Includes single plan benefits
- Covers 2 people
- 10 free yearly consultations for you and your partner
- 2x Super Screen Health Check P.A.
Family Plan
£199
Per User/month, billed annually
Cover The Whole Family For One Fixed Price
- Up to 2 adults and 2 children
- £25 per additional child
- 10 free yearly consultations for all members
- 4x Super Screen Health Check P.A.
- Includes all single plan benefits
Common reasons patients book EAR WAX REMOVAL
- Muffled or reduced hearing, usually in one ear and often noticed on the phone first.
- A feeling of fullness or blockage, as though the ear needs to pop and will not.
- Ringing or buzzing that started with the blockage.
- Itching inside the canal, sometimes with flaking skin.
- Earache, or a dull ache that comes and goes.
- A hearing aid that has started whistling or feels like it no longer fits.
- A persistent cough set off by the ear, which surprises people but is a recognised reflex.
- Mild unsteadiness, or a sense that balance is slightly off.
- Before a hearing test or hearing aid fitting, where wax will interfere with the result
What is MICROSUCTION EAR WAX REMOVAL?
Microsuction is the removal of earwax using a low-pressure suction device while the clinician views the ear canal through a microscope or magnifying loupes. No water enters the ear. Because the canal stays visible throughout, the clinician can work around the eardrum rather than towards it blindly, and can stop the moment anything looks wrong.
It is also known as microsuction, ear wax suction, earwax removal and, loosely, ear cleaning. It is not the same as ear syringing or ear irrigation, which flush warm water into the canal under pressure and are performed without a view of what the water is doing.
Ear wax, properly cerumen, is produced by glands in the outer third of the canal. It is mildly acidic, antibacterial, and migrates outwards naturally as the skin of the canal sheds. Healthy ears do not need cleaning. Removal is a treatment for a blockage that is causing symptoms, not routine hygiene, which is why an assessment comes first and why we charge for it separately.
Microsuction vs syringing: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Two Methods, and Only One of Them Suits Every Ear
These are not interchangeable techniques, and the difference determines who can be treated. Syringing is not recommended where there is a perforated eardrum, a current ear infection, or a history of ear problems. Microsuction is generally suitable in those cases, assessed individually.
| Microsuction | Syringing or irrigation | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Low pressure suction, canal viewed throughou | Warm water flushed into the canal under pressure |
| Clinician can see the canal | Yes, from start to finish | Not during the flush |
| Water in the ear | None | Yes |
| Drops needed beforehand | No | Usually several days of softening drops |
| Previous perforated eardrum | Generally suitable, assessed individually | Not recommended |
| Current ear infection | Assessed case by case | Not recommended |
| Grommets or previous ear surgery | Assessed case by case | Not recommended |
| Available at Private Medical Clinic | Yes | No, we use microsuction |
On the NHS. Many NHS practices no longer offer ear wax removal routinely, and where it is available, the wait can be considerable. If your ears are blocked and your surgery has told you it is not a service they provide, that is the usual reason people arrive here.
Ear Wax Removal FAQs
No, for most people it is not painful. Microsuction is noisy rather than sore, and the suction sounds louder than it feels because it is happening close to the eardrum. You may notice a brief cold sensation or a tickle. If the canal is already inflamed, it can be tender, and the clinician will stop and explain the options rather than pushing on.
No. This is the part that surprises most people. Softening drops are needed before syringing, not before microsuction, so you can book and simply come in. If you have already been using olive oil, that is fine and does no harm. Do not start using drops specifically on our account.
Generally, yes, and this is the main reason people are referred to microsuction specifically. Syringing is not recommended with a perforation, a current infection, grommets or previous ear surgery, because water in the middle ear causes problems. Microsuction uses no water and keeps the canal in view, so it is assessed individually rather than ruled out.
Ear wax removal is performed by an audiologist, with our GP team on site if a symptom needs a wider assessment. If the examination finds an infection, a perforation or something other than wax, a doctor can see you in the same visit.
Most people never need it again, or only every few years. If you use hearing aids, wear earbuds heavily or have a naturally narrow canal, once or twice a year is common. We will tell you honestly at the appointment whether yours is a one-off or a pattern, rather than booking you a standing appointment you may not need.
An ear assessment on its own is £25. Assessment and removal is £65 for one ear and £95 for both. Both removal prices include the assessment, and having both ears done costs less than booking two single ears. If we examine you and there is no wax to remove, you pay the £25 assessment fee only.
Allow about thirty minutes for the whole visit, which covers examining both ears, the removal itself and checking the canal and eardrum afterwards. The suction part is usually only a few minutes per ear. Unusually hard or impacted wax takes longer and occasionally needs a second appointment.
Many NHS practices no longer provide it routinely, which is why most people arrive here having been turned away by their own surgery. You do not need a referral or an NHS GP to book with us.
No. Cotton buds push wax deeper and compact it against the eardrum, turning a mild blockage into a firm plug, and they are the most common reason a straightforward removal becomes a difficult one. Healthy ears clean themselves. Nothing rigid should go in either, and ear candles have no evidence of benefit and a real record of burns and perforations.
Then you find out, which is the point of assessing first. A blocked feeling can also come from middle ear fluid, an infection, eustachian tube dysfunction, or, in a small number of cases, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which is time-critical. You pay the £25 assessment, and a GP can see you the same day if that is what is needed.
Ready to book EAR WAX REMOVAL?
Book Microsuction at Your Nearest Clinic
No referral, no drops, and nothing to prepare. Assessment £25, one ear £65, both ears £95, with the price confirmed before you book. Same-week appointments at ten CQC-registered clinics, and Saturday slots at Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and London.