Foreign body removal (Removal of a foreign body (skin, eye, ear or nose))

A minor procedure to safely take out an object stuck in the skin, eye, ear or nose, when it cannot be removed at home or is causing problems.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

Small, shallow splinters can often be removed at home with clean tweezers; deeper objects, glass, metal, fish hooks or anything in the eye, ear or nose usually need a clinician.
Never rub an eye with something in it and never try to dig out an object stuck in or near the eye — cover it and seek urgent help.
Removal itself is usually quick, but you may need a tetanus check and, sometimes, antibiotics if the wound is dirty or infected.
Private walk-in clinics are only for minor, low-risk objects; eye injuries and embedded or high-speed fragments belong in NHS A&E or eye casualty.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeMinor procedure

AnaestheticOften none; local anaesthetic or numbing eye drops where needed

How long it takesUsually a few minutes to half an hour

Hospital stayOutpatient — you go home the same day

Time off workUsually none for minor removals

When you'll see resultsRelief is usually immediate once the object is out

On the NHS?Eye, ear, nose and embedded foreign bodies are routinely managed by NHS A&E, minor injury units, eye casualty and GPs. Private walk-in clinics handle only minor, low-risk cases.

A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Relief of pain and irritation once the object is out.

Pause if

A private walk-in clinic is the wrong place for a high-speed metal eye fragment, a penetrating eye injury, or an object deep near nerves, tendons or the...

Main recovery point

Relief is usually immediate. After eye removal, vision may be blurred from ointment and the eye gritty as the numbing drops wear off — don't drive until...

Good aftercare

Clear confirmation of whether the object is fully removed.

Straight after

Relief is usually immediate. After eye removal, vision may be blurred from ointment and the eye gritty as the...

First 24–48 hours

Keep skin wounds clean and dry as advised. A corneal scratch usually heals in this time. Take simple painkillers...

First week

Most small wounds heal well. Finish any antibiotic drops or tablets. Watch for redness, swelling or discharge.

Follow-up

Eye injuries are often rechecked to confirm the surface has healed and there is no infection.

Medical line illustration of skin excision and sutured closure for Foreign body removal. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is foreign body removal?

Foreign body removal means safely taking out something that has become stuck in or on the body — most often a splinter or thorn in the skin, a piece of grit or an eyelash in the eye, or an object pushed into a child's ear or nose.

Many small, shallow splinters can be removed at home. But some objects need a clinician: anything in the eye, anything deeply embedded, glass or metal fragments, fish hooks, objects in the ear or nose, and anything that has become infected or won't come out.

A clinician can numb the area, use the right instruments, check nothing is left behind, and treat the wound. This guide explains when you can manage at home, when to seek help, and what the procedure involves.

Some situations are emergencies, not minor procedures. A high-speed metal fragment in the eye (for example from grinding or hammering), a deep wound, a wound from a dirty or rusty object, or any object near the eye should be assessed urgently — go to A&E or an eye casualty, not a routine appointment.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Skin splinter or thorn

Wood, thorn, glass, metal or grit in the skin. Shallow ones may be removed at home; deeper, fragmented or infected ones need a clinician, sometimes with a small cut under local anaesthetic.

Eye foreign body

Grit, an eyelash, sand or a metal fragment on the surface of the eye or under the lid. A clinician uses numbing drops, examines the eye with a special light, and removes it carefully. Never attempt this at home with an instrument.

Ear foreign body

Often a bead, cotton-bud tip or insect, usually in children. A clinician removes it with proper instruments or by gentle irrigation; pushing at it risks damaging the ear canal or eardrum.

Nose foreign body

Commonly a small toy or bead in a young child. It needs prompt, gentle removal by a clinician to avoid it being inhaled. Button batteries and magnets are urgent.

Fish hook or barbed object

Barbs make these hard to remove without causing more damage. A clinician chooses the safest technique, usually under local anaesthetic, and checks for nerve, tendon or eye involvement.

Remove at home or get help?

Situation	At home?	Why
Small shallow splinter	Often yes	Low risk with clean tweezers and good light
Anything in the eye	No	Risk of scratching the cornea or hidden injury
Glass, metal, fish hook	No	May fragment, be barbed, or sit deep
Object in ear or nose	No	Pushing it deeper can cause real harm
Dirty, deep or infected wound	No	Needs cleaning, tetanus check, maybe antibiotics

If in doubt, leave it in place, cover it, and get it checked. Trying repeatedly at home can push the object deeper or cause infection.

Preparing for your procedure

For a home splinter: wash your hands and the area, and use clean tweezers and a good light.
Do not try to remove anything from, or close to, the eye yourself — cover the eye lightly and seek help.
If a child has put something in their ear or nose, keep them calm and don't poke at it; get it removed by a clinician.
Note when and how the injury happened, and what the object is (wood, glass, metal), as this guides treatment.
Check whether your tetanus jabs are up to date, especially for a dirty or deep wound.
Bring any piece of the object that came out, and tell the clinician if you think part is still inside.

What happens

The clinician first asks how the injury happened and examines the area. For the eye, they put in numbing drops and use a bright light or microscope (a slit lamp) to find the object and check for scratches; a metal fragment may leave a small rust ring that also needs cleaning.

For skin, they may clean the area and use local anaesthetic, then remove the object with fine instruments, sometimes making a tiny cut to reach it. They check that nothing is left behind, clean the wound, and dress it.

For ears and noses, the right instrument or gentle irrigation is used; in children, this is sometimes done with extra help to keep them still and safe.

Afterwards you are told how to care for the wound, whether you need a tetanus booster or antibiotics, and what warning signs to watch for. Eye injuries are often given antibiotic ointment and a follow-up check.

Is this procedure right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

A private walk-in clinic is the wrong place for a high-speed metal eye fragment, a penetrating eye injury, or an object deep near nerves, tendons or the eye — these need A&E or eye casualty.
Home removal is not suitable for anything in the eye, ear or nose, for glass, metal or fish hooks, or for deeply embedded objects.
Removal alone is not enough if the wound is heavily contaminated or you may have inhaled or swallowed the object.
Repeated home attempts are not advisable — they push objects deeper and raise infection risk.

Delay or rearrange if…

Do not delay for a button battery or magnet in the ear or nose, a high-speed eye fragment, or signs of a penetrating eye injury — these are urgent.
If the wound is actively bleeding heavily, control bleeding and seek urgent care first.
If there are signs of serious infection (spreading redness, fever), this needs prompt medical review.
A planned cosmetic check of a healed scar can wait; an unhealed or infected wound cannot.

Alternatives to discuss

Leave a shallow splinter alone if it is usually not painful and likely to work its way out, watching for infection.
NHS minor injuries unit, A&E or eye casualty rather than a private clinic.
GP appointment for a non-urgent, accessible skin foreign body.
Imaging-guided removal for objects that cannot be seen or felt.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Comfort, sedation or contrast choices

If local anaesthetic, sedation, contrast or pain relief is used, ask what is planned, why, and what it means afterwards.

No anaesthetic

Many shallow splinters and simple eye flushes need no anaesthetic.

Numbing eye drops

Used to examine and remove eye foreign bodies comfortably; they are not given to take home, as repeated use slows healing.

Local anaesthetic

Injected or applied to numb skin before removing a deeper object or making a small cut.

Benefits

Relief of pain and irritation once the object is out.
Lower risk of infection compared with leaving a foreign object in place.
For the eye, prevents a small object scratching the cornea and causing lasting damage.
A clinician can check that nothing has been left behind.
A chance to update tetanus protection and treat any wound properly.

Risks & complications

More common

Mild soreness, redness or a small wound where the object was.
For eyes: temporary grittiness, watering and light sensitivity after removal.
A short sting from local anaesthetic or numbing drops.

Less common

Wound infection needing antibiotics.
A small piece of the object being left behind and needing a second look.
Bruising or minor bleeding around the site.
A corneal abrasion (scratch) that needs a few days to heal.

Rare but serious

Damage to nearby structures such as a nerve, tendon, the eardrum or the eye itself.
A deeper eye injury (penetration) from a high-speed fragment that was not obvious at first.
Tetanus, which is why up-to-date vaccination matters for dirty wounds.

The biggest pitfalls are eye objects and high-speed metal fragments, which can hide a deeper injury, and objects pushed deeper by repeated home attempts. Ask the clinician whether the wound is fully cleared, whether you need a tetanus booster, and whether your eye needs a follow-up examination.

Published figures to discuss

Most foreign body removals are low-risk and uncomplicated. Reliable complication rates are hard to quote because they depend heavily on the object, its location, how long it has been there, and whether it is near the eye, nerves or tendons. We therefore use qualitative wording rather than invented percentages.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Retained foreign body	Uncommon but more likely with glass, wood, thorns and puncture wounds	X-ray can miss radiolucent material such as wood; ultrasound or specialist review may be needed.	NHS — Cuts and grazesnhs.ukSource-linked context
Infection after puncture or retained material	Higher in dirty wounds, feet, bites, diabetes and delayed presentation	Increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus or fever needs review.	NHS — Cuts and grazesnhs.ukSource-linked context
Eye foreign body causing corneal abrasion or rust ring	Common with metal-on-metal work	Eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision or high-speed injury should be assessed urgently.	NHS — Cuts and grazesnhs.ukSource-linked context
Nerve, tendon or vessel injury during removal	Uncommon, higher with deep hand, foot, face or neck foreign bodies	Some foreign bodies are safer to remove in theatre or a specialist clinic.	NHS — Cuts and grazesnhs.ukSource-linked context

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

Most minor foreign body removals need no real recovery — you go home the same day. Eye removals and small skin wounds may be tender for a day or two while they heal.

Straight after

Relief is usually immediate. After eye removal, vision may be blurred from ointment and the eye gritty as the numbing drops wear off — don't drive until this settles.

First 24–48 hours

Keep skin wounds clean and dry as advised. A corneal scratch usually heals in this time. Take simple painkillers if needed.

First week

Most small wounds heal well. Finish any antibiotic drops or tablets. Watch for redness, swelling or discharge.

Follow-up

Eye injuries are often rechecked to confirm the surface has healed and there is no infection.

What's normal — and not a worry

A little soreness or a small scab where a splinter was removed.
Watery, gritty or light-sensitive eyes for a day after an eye foreign body.
Mild redness around the wound that settles.
Slightly blurred vision from eye ointment that clears as it absorbs.

Aftercare

Keep skin wounds clean and dry, and change dressings as advised.
Use any prescribed antibiotic drops, ointment or tablets exactly as directed.
Do not rub a treated eye; wear sunglasses if it is light-sensitive.
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for discomfort if you can.
Watch for signs of infection — increasing pain, redness, swelling, heat or discharge.
Attend any follow-up check, especially after an eye injury.
Get a tetanus booster if advised, particularly for dirty or deep wounds.

Before your procedure

Clean dressings or plasters at home
Prescribed drops/ointment collected
Painkillers available
Tetanus status checked
Follow-up eye appointment booked if needed
Urgent-advice number saved: NHS 111 (England, Scotland, Wales) or, in Northern Ireland, GP out-of-hours / your HSC Trust Phone First service

⚠ Get urgent help if…

A high-speed metal fragment to the eye (grinding, hammering) — go to A&E or eye casualty even if it feels minor.
Severe eye pain, marked light sensitivity, or any change in or loss of vision.
A wound from a dirty, rusty or deep object, or one you cannot fully clean.
Increasing pain, redness, swelling, heat or pus around the wound (infection).
A button battery or magnet in the ear or nose — these are urgent.
Numbness, weakness or inability to move a finger/part near the wound (possible nerve or tendon injury).
A fever or feeling generally unwell after the injury.

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result is the object removed completely with the wound clean and healing, and — for the eye — the surface intact and vision unaffected. Relief is usually immediate.

Removal cannot undo an injury that has already happened, such as a deep corneal scratch or a nerve injury, and it cannot rule out a hidden fragment if imaging wasn't possible. If symptoms persist, the clinician may arrange an X-ray or ultrasound (glass and metal often show up; wood and plastic may not) to make sure nothing remains.

How long it lasts

Once the object is out and the wound has healed, there is usually no lasting problem. A retained fragment that is missed can cause ongoing irritation, infection or a lump weeks later, which is why checking for complete removal and watching for warning signs matters.

Related tests, treatments or support

Removal is often combined with wound cleaning, a tetanus booster where needed, and sometimes antibiotics. For deeper or uncertain cases, imaging (X-ray or ultrasound) may be done at the same visit to locate or confirm there is no remaining fragment.

Follow-up & long-term care

Simple skin removals usually need no follow-up unless the wound shows signs of infection. Eye foreign bodies are commonly rechecked within a day or two to confirm healing. You should be told exactly who to contact and where to go if symptoms worsen.

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

A retained fragment may be found later and need a second procedure or imaging.
An eye foreign body may need rechecking to confirm the surface has healed and the rust ring is fully removed.
A wound that becomes infected may need antibiotics or further cleaning.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

Clear confirmation of whether the object is fully removed.
Written wound-care and infection warning advice with a named contact route.
Appropriate tetanus and antibiotic decisions explained.
A follow-up eye check arranged where the eye was involved.
Onward referral if a fragment may remain or a deeper injury is suspected.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

Where you go: a private walk-in clinic charges a consultation/procedure fee that NHS urgent care does not.
Complexity: a simple splinter costs less to manage than an embedded, fragmented or barbed object.
Whether local anaesthetic, specialist eye equipment or minor surgery is needed.
Whether imaging (X-ray or ultrasound) is required to locate or confirm clearance of the object.
Whether antibiotics, dressings or a tetanus booster are needed.
Any follow-up appointment, particularly for eye injuries.

Make sure your written quote includes

The consultation/procedure fee and what it includes.
Cost of local anaesthetic, dressings or any minor surgery.
Whether imaging is included if needed.
Whether a tetanus booster, antibiotics or follow-up are extra.
What happens, and what it costs, if the object cannot be fully removed and you need referral.
Their policy if a complication such as infection develops afterwards.

On the NHS? Foreign body removal — especially from the eye, ear or nose, or when embedded — is routinely provided free by NHS A&E, minor injury units, eye casualty and GP surgeries. Private walk-in clinics may handle minor, low-risk cases for convenience.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Choosing a specialist safely

Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

Are you confident the whole object is out, or could a fragment remain?
Does my eye need examining with a slit lamp and a follow-up check?
Do I need a tetanus booster or antibiotics for this wound?
What warning signs mean I should come back urgently?
Do I need an X-ray or ultrasound to check nothing is left behind?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the specialist who carries out my procedure, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this procedure not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Can I just dig a splinter out myself?

A small, shallow splinter can usually be removed at home with clean tweezers and good light. Stop and get help if it's deep, won't come out after a few minutes, is glass or metal, is near the eye, or the area becomes infected.

I've got something in my eye — what should I do?

Do not rub it. Try blinking and letting tears flush it out, or rinse with clean water or saline. If it won't shift, is stuck, or your eye is very painful or your vision changes, cover the eye and get urgent medical help. Never use tweezers on the eye.

My child has put a bead up their nose or in their ear — is it urgent?

It needs prompt removal by a clinician; don't poke at it as you may push it deeper. Go urgently if it is a button battery or a magnet, or if there is bleeding, pain or trouble breathing.

Do I need a tetanus jab?

Possibly, especially for a dirty, deep or rusty wound. The clinician will check whether your vaccinations are up to date and give a booster if needed.

Can a private walk-in clinic remove it?

For a minor, low-risk object, yes. But eye injuries, embedded glass or metal, high-speed fragments, fish hooks and objects in the ear or nose are usually better dealt with in NHS A&E, a minor injuries unit or eye casualty, where the right equipment is available.

Will an X-ray find the object?

Glass and metal usually show up on X-ray; wood, plastic and thorns often do not, so ultrasound may be used. Imaging is only needed in some cases — the clinician will decide.

Where can I get urgent advice if I'm worried afterwards?

If it feels life-threatening — for example a serious eye injury, heavy bleeding or difficulty breathing — call 999 or go straight to A&E. For urgent advice that isn't life-threatening, call NHS 111 if you are in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland does not have an NHS 111 service, so instead contact your GP out-of-hours service or your local HSC Trust's Phone First number.

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Cuts and grazes NHS — Eye injuries (first aid) Moorfields Eye Hospital — Ocular foreign body St John Ambulance — Eye injury first aid NICE CKS — Lacerations NHS — Tetanus nidirect — Urgent and emergency care services nidirect — GP out-of-hours service

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.