Advice
General Advice pre- and post-appointment to optimise the efficiency of the procedure alongside maintaining good aural care.
Pre-Appointment.
Treat the ear with olive oil [from the kitchen is perfectly fine] for 3-5 days prior to your appointment; this is according to current NICE guidelines.
Use 2-4 drops of oil in each ear, ensuring you lie on the opposite ear to that which is being treated, for 5-10 minutes, to allow the oil to soak the wax.
Avoid using Otex/Earex as this contains urea hydrogen peroxide which can irritate the ear canal if used for an extended period of time.
Treating the wax with oil can worsen symptoms initially and cause aural fullness. If it becomes painful, STOP. But try to persevere.
OTHER TYPES OF DROPS:
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almond oil
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sodium bicarbonate
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audispray
An online wax removal questionnaire will be sent to your e-mail address upon booking, or you can fill it out from the website or in person. Please fill the form prior to your appointment, if possible.
Post-Appointment.
Wax contains protective properties for the ear canal, therefore by removing wax, you are at an increased risk of a ear infection 5-7 days post procedure.
Irrigation increases this risk further, as the water tends to remove and dilute the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of the ear wax.
Advice: ​
Keep ears dry when bathing, washing hair and swimming for a few days post procedure. Use cotton wool and vaseline to help with this Avoid itching your ears Do not use cotton buds Mild pain shortly after wax removal can be expected if a large amount of compacted wax has been removed Moderate to severe pain is rare but it can arise 1-7 days post procedure. This could be an ear infection and may block your ears again. Contact your GP as you may need prescription drops/spray to treat the ear. Further wax removal may be required once the infection has cleared Use olive oil drops weekly/monthly [upon the clinicians advice] to help soften future wax production. Feeling lightheaded is to be expected but will settle within the day. Any ringing in the ears which was experienced prior to wax removal can take time to settle.