How do I look after my ears after microsuction?

What should I do in the first 24–48 hours?

Very little. Good aftercare is mostly about leaving the ear alone while it settles:

• Keep the ear dry. Avoid swimming for a day or two, and take care in the shower: tilt your head away from the spray, or place a small piece of cotton wool lightly coated with petroleum jelly at the entrance of the ear to keep water out. Do not start drops if you have any pain or discharge, or a known perforated eardrum — call us or your GP first.
• No cotton buds, not now and ideally not ever. They push debris inwards, can scratch the freshly cleared canal skin and encourage new wax to compact.
• Let the ear settle. The skin of the ear canal is delicate and can feel slightly sensitive for a short while after suction. Resist the urge to poke, scratch or "check" the ear with anything.
• Hearing aids and earbuds can usually go back in the same day, though if the ear feels a little tender it is sensible to leave them out for a few hours first.

There is normally no need to continue softening drops straight after a successful removal. Some people who are prone to build-up use an occasional drop of olive oil as a preventative habit; ask the pharmacist whether that makes sense for you.

What sensations are normal after ear wax removal?

A few odd sensations in the first hours or days are common and rarely anything to worry about:

• Everything sounds louder or slightly echo-y. If wax had been blocking the canal for weeks, your brain adjusted to muffled input. Normal volume can feel strange, even sharp, until you readjust, usually within a day or so.
• Mild itching. The canal skin has just been cleared and may feel dry or tickly while its natural coating re-establishes itself.
• Brief ringing or buzzing. A short-lived awareness of tinnitus-like sound can occur and usually settles quickly. If you had ringing beforehand, wax-related symptoms often improve once wax is removed, but tinnitus has many causes and microsuction is not a treatment for it.
• A cool, "open" feeling in the canal, simply because air is reaching skin that was covered by wax.

These generally fade on their own without any action needed from you.

What if my ear still feels blocked?

Occasionally an ear can still feel full after the appointment, and there are a few common reasons. Mild residual swelling of the canal skin can take a day or two to settle, especially where hard wax was pressed against it; this usually resolves on its own. Sometimes a small amount of wax remains: most blockages are cleared in one visit, but occasionally a second visit, or a few more days of softening drops followed by a return appointment, is needed. If that applies to you, the pharmacist will say so at the time and agree a plan with you.

If the ear still feels blocked more than two or three days after removal, call us on 0161 948 5066. We can advise whether to come back in, use olive oil or Earol for a few days first, or see your GP instead. No GP referral is needed to return, and same-day appointments are often available.

When should I contact a GP?

Problems after microsuction are uncommon, but contact your GP promptly (or NHS 111 out of hours) if you notice any of the following:

• Increasing pain in or around the ear
• Discharge or an unpleasant smell from the ear
• Fever, or feeling generally unwell
• A sudden, marked drop in hearing, or new dizziness

A sudden, marked drop in hearing, severe pain, or new spinning dizziness needs urgent same-day advice — call your GP or NHS 111 straight away rather than waiting.

These can point to an infection or another problem that needs medical assessment rather than pharmacy ear care. Please note we do not provide hearing tests or audiology; if your hearing remains poor once the ears are clear of wax, your GP can arrange the right referral.

Booking a follow-up or a first appointment

Microsuction at Timperley Late Night Pharmacy is delivered by a pharmacist and costs £50 for one ear or £70 for both — the same flat price on evenings and weekends, with no hidden fees. We are open Monday to Saturday 9am–9pm and Sunday 9am–6pm, with free parking directly outside. If you are reading this before your first visit, a few days of olive oil or Earol spray usually makes removal easier; see how to prepare for your appointment, or read more about how microsuction works. To book, use the contact page or call 0161 948 5066.