After earwax removal, don't insert anything into your ear (like cotton buds or fingers), keep your ear dry (avoid swimming for days), avoid loud noises, and don't overclean, as these actions can disrupt healing, push wax deeper, or cause infection, making it crucial to let your ear heal naturally and follow your specialist's specific aftercare instructions.
Immediate Steps After Wax Removal
One Week After Microsuction
By this point, your ears should be feeling pretty normal. Many people report feeling more “open” or like their hearing has reached a new level of clarity. This is where hearing after earwax removal really settles in and feels natural.
Yes, earwax removal is generally safe during pregnancy, with professional methods like microsuction, irrigation, and softening drops (like Waxsol or Otex, after checking with a doctor) being effective and safe options, but always inform your healthcare provider about your pregnancy so they can ensure the most comfortable and appropriate treatment for you, as traditional home remedies like cotton buds are discouraged.
Aftercare Tips
Avoid getting water in your ears for 24-48 hours after the microsuction procedure. Protect ears with cotton balls coated in petroleum jelly when showering or washing your hair. Use any prescription ear drops as directed by your audiologist to prevent infection and help with healing.
Depending on the amount of wax in your ears, you might find that things sound a little different once the wax has been removed. You might also notice a small amount of ringing or buzzing in your ears, but this should settle down after a couple of days.
Trauma to the ear
As the microsuction ear wax removal procedure involves a tube being inserted into the ear canal, there is a small risk that some damage or trauma could occur in the ear canal or ear drum. This can occur from sudden movements by the recipient. In extremely rare cases, the eardrum can become perforated.
Damage to the ear/eardrum, which can cause slight bleeding - This is an unusual side effect, and being able to sit very still during the entire earwax removal procedure will significantly minimise the risk. Noise-induced damage - Again this is rare, but you might experience temporary hearing loss.
To sleep with an ear infection, elevate your head or sleep on your non-affected side. Elevating the affected ear makes it easier for the infection to drain.
The body naturally produces earwax to help protect and lubricate the ear canal. You may be more prone to earwax buildup if you wear hearing aids, earbuds, or earplugs frequently. Dust, pollen, cold weather, and skin conditions can also trigger an increased production of earwax.
While most people feel a sense of relief once the wax is removed, it's not uncommon to experience dizziness for a short time afterwards. This can happen because the ear plays such an important role in balance, and even small changes during the removal process can affect how you feel.
Dry earwax is not as effective as wet earwax in trapping foreign particles and is more likely to cause blockages in the ear canal.
They may recommend over-the-counter ear drops or remove them manually. You can also add a few drops of water to your ear to release blockage. See an ear, nose, or throat doctor once or twice a year for ear cleaning, especially if you're prone to having earwax buildup (for example, when wearing hearing aids).
Yes, after the earwax is removed, you are likely to start hearing better immediately. A study found that 75% of ears tested could hear 1 to 3 more frequencies after ear irrigation. This improvement in hearing is because removing the blockage allows sound to travel more freely to the eardrum.
After ear syringing, it typically takes a few hours for your ears to settle. However, some individuals might experience symptoms such as slight discomfort, dizziness, or tinnitus for a short period afterward. These symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours.
So, it is important to keep your ears dry for a minimum of 3 days after treatment. To keep ears dry for 3 days, you should use ear buds for 3 days when showering or bathing and should not swim or submerge head under water for 7 days.
Traumatic ruptures can heal on their own within a month without treatment unless there is a secondary infection. Patients with a ruptured eardrum can sleep on either side or on their back. However, it is recommended to avoid sleeping on the side of the affected ear to prevent further damage.
If one ear is congested or infected, sleep with the affected ear facing upward so the unaffected ear supports your head and aids drainage. Avoid sleeping flat or face down, as these positions tend to encourage fluid buildup and increase pressure.
Fluid or discharge from your ear could be ear wax, but sometimes it can be a sign of an ear problem or injury. Fluid from your ear may be caused by middle or outer ear infections, damage to the ear drum, a foreign body in your ear or a more serious infection or injury.
Some people experience vertigo — a spinning or dizzy sensation — after earwax removal. This is more common if the procedure involves water irrigation or suction, which can temporarily disturb the balance-sensitive structures within the ear.
GP surgery treatment to remove earwax
Some can: flush the wax out with water (electronic ear irrigation) suck the wax out (microsuction) scrape the wax out using a very small device.
Professional ear cleaning
This is the safest and most effective way of cleaning your ears deeply from excess or impacted earwax. Our hearing experts can do this for you in store. They'll start by having a look in your ears to determine the best ear cleaning method for you.
Microsuction is an incredibly safe procedure. There is potential for minimal damage to the ear drum, but only if you move unexpectedly during the procedure. In very rare circumstances, you may experience minor hearing loss immediately afterwards, however this will resolve itself a short time after.
Complications of syringing—Adverse effects are common. Perforation of the ear drum, otitis externa, damage to the external canal, pain, deafness, vertigo, and tinnitus are all possible complications.
Temporary sensorineural hearing loss (temporary threshold shift)(1 in 100). The intensity of the sound from microsuction can, in sensitive patients, result in a temporary threshold shift. This usually lasts a few minutes but can last a few hours.