A surgery for cholesteatoma is the removal of an abnormal and noncancerous skin cell growth in your middle ear called a cholesteatoma. If left untreated a cholesteatoma will grow and can cause:
Cholesteatomas don’t go away naturally. They usually continue to grow and cause additional problems.
This surgery aims to stop the symptoms of a cholesteatoma as well as prevent and treat any rare but serious complications of the disease. It is very important to remove the disease completely, or it may grow back.
Your surgery will involve making a cut in front of or behind your ear, removing bone from around the cholesteatoma to see where it has spread to, and removing the cholesteatoma cyst. The type of surgery will depend on how and where your cyst has grown and the repair required for any damage it has done to your ear. To summarise these different surgeries:
Cholesteatoma surgery usually takes two to three hours, depending on how far the cholesteatoma has spread and the extent of repair required after its removal.
Most patients stay in the hospital overnight.
You should plan to take a week or so off work.
It is important to keep the affected ear dry. You can wash your hair after a week but you should make sure you do not get water inside the ear. You can plug your ear with Vaseline-coated cotton wool to prevent water from getting in.
A follow-up appointment will be arranged for you to evaluate the results and ensure the cholesteatoma has not come back.
It is recommended that you avoid swimming, flying and doing strenuous sports and activities until your follow up appointment. Your surgeon will confirm if it is safe to return to your usual activities.
The cost of this procedure will depend on the exact type of operation you require and your Ramsay hospital of choice. .
You will receive a formal quotation price for your surgery, after your consultation with one of our expert ENT surgeons and following any required tests, that is valid for 60 days and includes unlimited aftercare. .
Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. A cholesteatoma procedure is covered by most medical insurance policies. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before your procedure.
We offer a number of finance options to pay for your surgery, including: All-inclusive Total Care where a single one-off payment at a pre-agreed price delivers direct access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance, pay as you go and, 0% payment plans.
Surgery for cholesteatoma is an operation to remove abnormal skin growth behind your eardrum in the middle ear that is called a cholesteatoma. It is performed to prevent discharge from your ear, hearing loss and other possible complications.
Ramsay Health Care UK’s specialist ENT surgeons offer an expert assessment of your symptoms and medical history and an examination of the inside of your ear using an otoscope. Your consultation with one of our experts and any surgery are performed without waiting. .
Your Ramsay ENT surgeon will be able to safely remove your cholesteatoma cyst using the appropriate surgery and repair any parts of your ear that need it. They will discuss this fully with you beforehand at your consultation. .
Patient and staff safety is our primary concern. All Ramsay hospitals follow strict protocols to prevent infection, including Covid 19.
Spread the cost of your treatment with fixed, monthly payments over a time period to suit you.
Find out more
We offer an alternative range of ways to pay, so you can choose which one best suits you and your finances.
Find out more
Use your private medical insurance to fund your treatment through our simple referral process.
Find out moreSurgery to widen the passage between the sinus and your nose so that mucus does not become trapped.
If your goitre is unsightly or interfering with your breathing or swallowing and it has not responded to other forms of treatment, you may need surgery to remove part or all of your thyroid gland. This procedure is known as a thyroidectomy.
Mr Upton is our first patient to have the new Puresee intraocular lens to support his cataract surgery, treated by Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Jesse Panthagani.
Glendon Wood Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK achieves their JAG accreditation in April 2024.