The question comes up often, and it’s worth answering directly: yes, professional ear cleaning is safe. When performed by a trained therapist using proper tools, it is one of the lower-risk treatments available in a grooming or spa setting.
The confusion usually comes from conflating professional cleaning with what people do at home. They are not the same procedure.
Why cotton buds are the problem
Cotton buds are designed to clean the outer ear. In practice, most people use them to push wax further into the canal. The wax compacts against the eardrum, builds up over time, and eventually causes the muffled hearing, fullness, or low-level discomfort that prompts people to look for professional help.
If you’ve been using cotton buds regularly for years, a professional clean will likely be more effective — and more noticeable — than if you hadn’t.
What professional ear cleaning involves
At Care 22, ear cleaning uses a combination of fine curettes, soft irrigation, and a lit otoscope for visibility. The therapist examines the ear canal first, selects the appropriate tool for the type and amount of buildup, and clears the canal in stages.
The process takes 20–30 minutes and is largely painless. Most clients describe it as odd rather than uncomfortable — a sensation of something moving in the ear canal that is unfamiliar but not unpleasant. The moment of clearance, when it comes, is immediately noticeable.
Who it’s safe for
Professional ear cleaning is appropriate for most adults. It is not recommended if you have a perforated eardrum or an active ear infection — in either case, an ENT specialist is the right first step.
For standard buildup — which is the most common reason people seek it out — there is no meaningful safety concern with professional cleaning.
How often should you do it?
For most people, once every two to three months is enough. Bangkok’s humidity accelerates wax production slightly compared to drier climates, so regular visitors and long-term residents may find they need it more frequently than at home.
Ear cleaning is 300 ฿ for 20–30 minutes at Care 22. It’s also available as one of the four services in The Package at 799 ฿. Book an appointment or walk in on Sukhumvit Soi 22.