Medically reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last reviewed November 2026.
Earwax usually clears on its own, but when it builds up it can cause muffled hearing, a blocked feeling, ringing or dizziness. Softening drops for 3 to 5 days help many people. If your ears are still blocked, NICE recommends microsuction or electronic water irrigation. The Online GP by The Wellness offers earwax microsuction from £395.
Key points
About 2.3 million people a year in the UK have troublesome earwax that needs removing, according to a 2023 review in the British Journal of General Practice.
Olive or almond oil drops, 3 to 4 times a day for 3 to 5 days, soften wax and help many people clear it without treatment.
NICE recommends microsuction or electronic water irrigation when earwax needs removing, not cotton buds or ear candles.
Not all GP surgeries now remove earwax, so many people are referred elsewhere or pay privately.
The Online GP by The Wellness offers earwax microsuction from £395 and children’s earwax removal from £4
45.
What are the signs of earwax build-up?
The signs of earwax build-up are muffled hearing, a blocked or full feeling in the ear, ringing or buzzing, earache and sometimes dizziness. Symptoms often appear suddenly, after swimming or showering, when water makes the wax swell.
Earwax protects the ear canal and normally moves out by itself. Hearing aids, earbuds, narrow ear canals and cotton buds all make build-up more likely.
What should I try first for blocked ears?
Try softening drops first. The NHS guide to earwax build-up advises 2 to 3 drops of olive or almond oil, 3 to 4 times a day for 3 to 5 days, lying with the affected ear facing up. Do not use drops if you may have a perforated eardrum.
Avoid cotton buds, fingers and ear candles. They push wax further in and can damage the ear canal or eardrum.
Ask a doctor on WhatsApp about blocked ears.
When does earwax need professional removal?
Earwax needs professional removal if your ears are still blocked after 5 days of drops, if you cannot hear at all in one ear, or if you wear hearing aids and they keep whistling. Pain, discharge, a high temperature or sudden hearing loss need a doctor rather than wax removal.
A 2023 review in the British Journal of General Practice estimates that about 2.3 million people a year in the UK have troublesome earwax, and notes that services are scarce in some areas. NICE recommends electronic water irrigation or microsuction.
Sudden muffled hearing is usually wax, but not always. Looking in the ear first matters, because an infection or sudden hearing loss needs a different plan.
What is microsuction, and does it hurt?
Microsuction removes earwax with a fine, gentle suction tube while the clinician looks into the ear under magnification. It is quick, uses no water, and most people find it comfortable, although you may hear a loud whooshing noise.
Because the clinician can see the ear canal and eardrum throughout, microsuction suits people who cannot have water irrigation, such as those with a history of perforation or ear surgery.
Book earwax microsuction on WhatsApp.
What happens when I book earwax removal?
Earwax removal at The Online GP by The Wellness starts with a look in both ears, continues with microsuction where it is needed, and ends with a final check that the canal and eardrum are clear.
Message the team on WhatsApp with your symptoms and whether you have used drops.
The team books your appointment and confirms any preparation.
The clinician examines both ears before any removal.
Earwax is removed by microsuction under magnification.
You receive aftercare advice, and a doctor’s review if anything else is found.
Cleared gently. Checked carefully.
How much does earwax removal cost in London?
Earwax microsuction at The Online GP by The Wellness starts from £195. Children’s earwax removal starts from £245, and ear infection treatment starts from £295.
Most adults with blocked ears after a week of drops book microsuction. Ear infection treatment suits anyone with pain, discharge or a high temperature. Book earwax removal on WhatsApp.
Can a doctor tell me whether I need earwax removal?
Yes. Send your symptoms, how long your ears have been blocked and whether you have used drops on WhatsApp. The team tells you whether drops are enough, whether microsuction would help, or whether you need a doctor to check for infection.
Start your free suitability review on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
How often should earwax be removed?
Most people never need earwax removed. People who build up wax regularly, including hearing aid users, may need removal every 6 to 12 months.
Is microsuction better than ear syringing?
Old-style manual syringing is no longer recommended. NICE recommends microsuction or electronic water irrigation, and the clinician chooses the method that suits your ear.
Should I use drops before microsuction?
Using olive oil drops for a few days beforehand often makes removal quicker and more comfortable. The team confirms what suits you when you book.
Can earwax cause dizziness?
Yes. A large build-up of wax can cause dizziness or a spinning feeling. Dizziness with hearing loss, headache or weakness needs a doctor’s assessment.
Sources
Munro KJ and colleagues, Ear wax management in primary care: what the busy GP needs to know, British Journal of General Practice, 2023
NICE guideline NG98, Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management, 2018
NHS, Earwax build-up
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