Nail surgery

Here we explain how nail surgery may help when treating painful and persistent ingrown toenails.

An ingrown toenail can be a painful and persistent issue due to nail shape and structure, due to damage from incorrect cutting, pressure from footwear and sports or trauma (like dropping something on it or being stepped on).

Unfortunately these cannot always be fixed my simply cutting the offending 'spike' out or taking antibiotics. This is often due to how the nail grows from the base, causing it to 'involute' (this is where the nail starts to curve into the skin causing pain, and possible open lesions which may lead to infection).

To ensure that this does not continue to be an issue, we can remove a portion of the nail or the entire nail using local anaesthetic. A chemical called phenol is then used on the nail bed to prevent the nail from growing back.  This usually takes 4 - 6 weeks to heal dependant on your general health and the amount of infection present in the area prior to surgery. A small dressing will need to be worn during the healing process, but otherwise it should not impede your daily life.

Please note that all potential nail surgery patients must be seen for an initial assessment prior to booking the nail surgery. This is to ensure you are a suitable candidate for the nail surgery and so we can discuss your individual case to tailor the treatment to your needs as much as possible. 

For more information on our podiatrists, visit their individual bio pages here: Michael and Lydia.