WHY CHOOSE MICROSUCTION

Many people are finding that their local NHS GP surgery has stopped offering ear syringing (also known as 'ear irrigation').  No doubt this is partly down to a lack of funding, but the fact that ear syringing is inherently less safe than ear micro suction has played a large part.  Many people have been injured by the ear syringing process and this is why we don't offer ear syringing as a service.  Possible side effects of ear syringing or irrigation are ear infection, hearing loss, tinnitus, perforation of the eardrum, and further impaction of the ear wax (i.e. the ear wax gets pushed even harder against the eardrum).  Due to this demand for people seeking to have the wax removed in this way, unfortunately the resultant rise has meant there are increased waiting times that can often exceed a couple of weeks.  You no longer need to wait weeks/months for this, why not jump the queue by going private?

WHAT IS MICROSUCTION

Microsuction is a wax removal technique using a binocular operating microscope (which allows depth-perception and magnification) to look straight into the ear canal and with a very fine sterile suction device at low pressure to remove the wax and occasionally we may need to remove some hard wax with other instruments.  The procedure is safe and there is no chance there will be any damage to the ear canal, making this a lot more comfortable.

​Compared to traditional forms of wax removal - ear drops and irrigation or 'syringing'.  Microsuction is

• ​Safer.
• Quicker.
• Neater.
• Generally better tolerated.
• More effective.
• Doesn't need weeks of waiting for drops to soften the wax​​.

​

WHAT IS EARWAX

Ear wax is a normal, healthy substance that helps to protect our ears from infection. It usually breaks down naturally and falls out of the ears in tiny flakes. If you wear a hearing aid, or have a narrow or curving ear canal, the wax may build up in your ear, causing discomfort, a sensation of fullness or some loss of hearing and you may not get the best results from your hearing aid.  Cerumen is produced in the outer third of the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal. It is a mixture of viscous secretions from and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine sweat glands. The primary components of earwax are shed layers of skin, with, on average, 60% of the earwax consisting of keratin, 12–20% saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, squalene, and 6–9% cholesterol. 

​There are two distinct genetically determined types of earwax:

• Wet, the dominant type (honey-brown to dark-brown and moist), is more common among Caucasians and Africans.  As many as 97% of Africans/Europeans have this type of ear wax, which is used for self-cleaning, preventing dryness, and helps to promote sweat production.
• Dry, the recessive type, is more common among Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asians. Up to 95% of East Asians/Native Americans have dry ear wax, and it’s believed to have resulted from living in colder climates reducing sweat or body odour.

​
There are, of course, the sub-types of wax:

• Tarry, classic wet, and firm nuggets
• Dry flakes and “cornflakes"

The amount of ear wax that the body produces differs from person to person, the amount that is retained within the ear also differs for each of us - these differences are for a number of reasons:

• Age
• Diet
• Lifestyle
• Personal anatomy
• Genetics
• Ethnicity

Many people will produce a small amount of wax their whole lives, which leaves the ear canal naturally, and never have any problem with it. For others, their ear will produce a larger amount of wax, which will not fully leave the ear canal and will become blocked, which leads to them having reduced hearing ability and also a blocked feeling in the ear.

BENEFITS OF EARWAX

• Cleaning of the ear canal occurs as a result of the "conveyor belt" process of epithelial migration, aided by jaw movement. Cells formed in the centre of the Tympanic Membrane migrate outwards from the Umbo (at a rate comparable to that of fingernail growth) to the walls of the ear canal, and move towards the entrance of the ear canal. The cerumen in the canal is also carried outwards, taking with it any particulate matter that may have gathered in the canal. Jaw movement assists this process by dislodging debris attached to the walls of the ear canal, increasing the likelihood of its expulsion.
• The lubrication provided by cerumen prevents desiccations of the skin within the ear canal. The lubricating properties arise from the high Lipid content of the Sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. In wet-type cerumen at least, these lipids include Cholesterol, Squalene, and many long-chain fatty acids and alcohols
• It prevents bacteria, germs, and dirt from getting into your sensitive inner ear. The waxy substance that is your ear wax traps and essentially suffocates the bacteria and germs that breed in your ear canals. Ear wax prevents them from spreading out of control, preventing infections in your ear.
• It collects dirt and slows bacteria growth. The sticky ear wax traps the dirt that blows into your open ear canal. That way, the sensitive skin of your ear canal is safe from irritation and possible infection.
• It prevents bugs and insects from creeping in. Imagine if tiny creepy crawlies could get into your ear and lay their eggs. Ew! Thanks to ear wax, which repels insects due to the acidic taste (pH level) (or traps the ones that try to get into your ear), your ears stay bug and insect-free!
• If you don’t have enough ear wax, your ears may become itchy. This is because the wax is almost like a moisturizer for your ears. It helps to keep your skin from becoming too dry, which leads to itchy, flaking skin. Ear wax is both a protector and a lubricant.

​

EARWAX BUILD UP SYMPTOMS

What happens when you have too much earwax in your ears? There are a few symptoms you need to be aware of:

• Frequent ear infections (caused by too much bacteria or germs in the ear canal)
• Tinnitus, or a ringing in your ears (usually the result of impacted ear wax)
• Pain (from the impacted wax)
• Irritation or itchiness of the ear (caused by excessive ear wax buildup)
• Reduced movement of the ear drum, meaning reduced hearing (a mild form of hearing loss)
• Dizziness and vertigo
• A sensation of your ear being plugged or full
• Coughing (caused when the pressure inside your inner ear stimulates the nerves)

​

APPOINTMENTS

​We offer home visit appointments throughout Wales, however they can only be offered for a small fee – please enquire with us about the details for your area. This service can be particularly useful if you or someone you know finds it difficult to visit the GP surgery. It may be useful to know that we also offer Ear Wax Removal in Nursing Homes.

BOOK YOUR  WAX REMOVAL TODAY

Call 07714651210