CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Meatoplasty of ear canal
EAR CANAL SURGERY
For when your ear canal is narrowed or blocked.
What is a meatoplasty?
Meatoplasty is a procedure carried out to widen your ear canals. Patients may have ear problems due to a build up of wax and/or debris. To prevent this, part of the soft tissue in this area is either removed or rearranged.
Your HCA UK Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist can carry out this treatment for you.
Need to know
A meatoplasty is normally carried out under general anaesthetic. Once you're asleep, your surgeon will make small incisions in your ear canal, before removing or rearranging soft tissue from the meatus part of your ear, widening your ear canal in the process.
At the end of the procedure, your surgeon will stitch the incisions and apply a bandage to your ear. The surgery can take between one and three hours.
Prior to the procedure, you'll need to provide your consultant with a full list of medication you are taking. They may ask you to stop taking some or all of these in the days leading up meatoplasty surgery. Tests you may undergo beforehand might include:
- X-ray to assess bone and ear structure
- Blood tests
- ECG to check your heart structure and function
As the procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, you may be advised not to eat or drink anything on the day.
Immediately after surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room where you will wake up. Here, you will have your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels measured. You will have a bandage and other protective material around the ear you had surgery on. As a result you may experience slight hearing problems for a few days after, as well as some dizziness.
When you are ready to leave hospital, please ensure you have arranged for somebody to drive you home. Your consultant will advise you on when you can get back to your normal routine, including work and exercise. They will also discuss a follow-up appointment with you.
Our Meatoplasty of ear canal consultants
Mr Anthony Aymat
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Max Whittaker
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Professor Simon Lloyd
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Professor Ahmed Allam
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Our Meatoplasty of ear canal locations
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David's gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.