Microsuction Ear Wax Removal in Blackpool

There are certain situations where it’s best to get checked out by a doctor before you book ear wax removal – these include the following: 

• If you’ve noticed severe or sudden hearing loss
• If you’re suffering from significant ear pain 
• If you’ve suffered a recent injury or blow to the head
• If you have discharge or are bleeding from your ear
• If you think you have an ear infection 
• If you’ve recently undergone ear surgery

When you attend your appointment, we conduct a consultation and take a look at your ear to see if wax build-up is causing an issue. If it’s not, we won’t charge you the £35 fee, but we do charge a £10 consultation fee that includes investigating what might be causing the discomfort or loss of hearing.

Ear wax removal is a procedure that clears stuck, impacted, or excessive ear wax from the ear canal. The treatment is done to alleviate symptoms like muffled hearing, ringing, ear pain, and congestion. To remove wax, doctors or pharmacists can use: 

Microsuction – a tiny vacuum gently pulls out the wax while the doctor or pharmacist looks down your ear canal through a microscope or magnifying glass. This is the type of service we offer at Blackpool Express Chemist because it’s effective and better for the ear than flushing it with water or saline. 

Ear irrigation – warm water or a saline solution is used to flush loosened wax out of the ear canal. 

Ear drops – these work by softening the ear wax, so it falls out naturally. Ear drop solutions include hydrogen peroxide and mineral oils.

Manual extraction – carefully using small tools, like forceps, to loosen and pull out harder pieces of wax.

Ear Irrigation uses a warm water stream to flush out wax, and is generally safe when done by a trained professional; however, it’s not good for people with ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum, as the water pressure can be painful.

By contrast, microsuction removal involves a medical vacuum used to pull out the wax. To maintain safety, this treatment is done with a special microscope to see inside the ear. Key benefits of microsuction are that it keeps the ear dry and is very precise, minimising irritation.

If you have, or have previously had, a perforated eardrum or any ear surgery, microsuction treatments may be more suitable.

Also known as cerumen, ear wax is an oily protective substance made in your ear canal. Cerumen is made from things like sweat, dead skin cells, and oils, and it helps our bodies stay safe from germs and infections by trapping dirt, repelling water, and stopping your ears from getting dry and itchy. 

No – you can book directly with us. Many GP surgeries no longer offer earwax removal, so we are here to fill that gap. One of the main advantages of going private is direct access, so you can book online or walk into our pharmacy to arrange your test. This means there’s no waiting for GP appointments or having to explain why you want a treatment.

No – most people find it comfortable. You will hear a gentle suction sound, but it does not hurt. If you feel any discomfort, just let us know, and we’ll stop.

Our ear wax removal treatment takes around 15 to 20 minutes, including the examination and removal.

Old ear wax can be compacted and difficult to remove, so, if we can’t get it all at your first appointment, we offer a free revisit. Between your first and second appointments, we recommend using olive oil for 2-3 days to loosen the wax and make sure we can remove it all. 

Although the drops or olive oil haven’t worked, there’s no need to worry. Drops can soften your ear wax, but if it’s too deep or impacted, it might not shift on its own. If this is the case, microsuction treatments can help remove the wax. 

To ensure your ear wax removal treatment is as successful as possible, we recommend using olive oil for 2-3 days before your appointment, because it loosens the dead skin cells attached to the wax in your ear.

Yes – microsuction is safe for people with a history of ear problems or perforated eardrums. In these cases, syringing or irrigation is not suitable, which is exactly why we use microsuction – to ensure we can help as many people as possible.

Before your treatment at Blackpool Express Chemist, you’ll be assessed by a healthcare professional who will decide whether microsuction treatment is suitable for you.

In most cases, patients say they can hear clearly as soon as the treatment’s finished. Similarly, if you use a hearing aid, microsuction ear wax removal can reduce whistling sounds and help you hear more clearly. 

If the ear wax is severely compacted and has been affecting your balance, you may feel a bit dizzy after the removal treatment. This is only temporary, but if you feel dizzy, we advise you not to drive or operate machinery until this passes. 

Yes – microsuction can help to restore normal hearing if your tinnitus is made worse by a blockage or build-up of wax. This enables ambient sounds to mask the internal ringing better. 

You don’t need to use ear drops before a microsuction appointment; however, we recommend using olive oil for 2-3 days before your microsuction appointment at our pharmacy. This is because the oil loosens wax, increasing the effectiveness of our treatment.