Ear irrigation at OpenMed Warsaw and Płock

Ear irrigation is a procedure performed to remove accumulated earwax or a wax plug from the ear canal. Excess earwax can cause a feeling of a blocked ear, hearing impairment, tinnitus and sometimes also dizziness and discomfort. If you experience such symptoms and are looking for safe ear irrigation, we invite you to OpenMed in Warsaw and in Płock. Our specialists perform the procedure after a prior assessment of the ear canal and careful exclusion of contraindications.

Earwax is a natural secretion produced in the external ear canal. It plays an important protective role - it moisturises the skin, traps microorganisms and helps remove impurities. The problem arises when there is too much secretion or it becomes compacted into a hard plug. This is often promoted by the use of cotton swabs, in-ear headphones or hearing aids. Contrary to popular belief, cotton swabs do not clean the ear but can push earwax deeper into the ear canal.

Symptoms and when to see a doctor?

Accumulated earwax can cause various complaints. Most often patients report a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing impairment, tinnitus or discomfort that intensifies after bathing. Sometimes there is also itching of the ear canal or a feeling of "fluid overflow" in the ear.

You should seek consultation and specialist assessment particularly in case of:

sudden hearing loss or a feeling of a blocked ear,
recurrent earwax accumulation,
discomfort after self-cleaning of the ears,
suspicion of a wax plug or foreign body.

Before ear irrigation, an otoscopic examination is necessary to assess the condition of the ear canal and eardrum. The procedure should not be performed in the case of active inflammation, eardrum perforation or certain previous ear surgeries.

Lekarz lek. Adrianna Kostrzewa-Sieńkowska

Adrianna Kostrzewa, MD

Otolaryngology, Paediatric otolaryngology, Aesthetic Medicine

Warsaw - Wola

Mariusz Ciastkowski, MD

What does ear irrigation at OpenMed look like?

At OpenMed, the procedure is preceded by a consultation and assessment of the ear canal. If the doctor confirms the presence of a wax plug, ear irrigation is performed using a special irrigator or a medical syringe with water at a temperature close to body temperature. Appropriate temperature matters, because water that is too cold can cause dizziness and irritation of the inner ear.

During the procedure, the doctor directs the stream of fluid in such a way as to safely flush out the accumulated earwax while protecting the eardrum from injury. If the secretion is very hard, a softening preparation may be applied beforehand. The procedure itself usually takes a few minutes and, when performed correctly, is painless. The patient may only feel a slight tickling or a sensation of water flow.

Safety and recommendations after the procedure

Ear irrigation is a minimally invasive procedure, but should be performed by qualified medical personnel. Self-attempts to remove earwax can lead to irritation of the ear canal or pushing the plug deeper. After the procedure, our specialists provide recommendations regarding ear hygiene and ways to reduce the recurrence of the problem.