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Ingrown Toenail Surgery & Nail Removal
Ingrown nail surgery is by far our most popular treatment for ingrown toenails because it permanently corrects ingrown toenails for approximately 9 out of 10 of our patients. This procedure removes the painful ingrown toenail and relieves your nail pain.​
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The minor surgical procedure we use is called a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA). It is performed routinely in your regular treatment chair by our skilled, experienced podiatrists. The appointment is one hour long, with the procedure itself taking only about 15 minutes. The rest of the appointment consists of preparing your foot beforehand and dressing your toe afterwards, adhering to extremely strict safety standards and infection-control protocols.
This procedure is very well tolerated by children and adults alike. It is performed under local anaesthetic so is completely painless. We’ve put together a short video on the procedure being performed on a patient of ours – please view at your discretion as we have not censored any part of the procedure.
The Procedure: Permanent Ingrown Nail Treatment
During a PNA, we remove the bothersome nail edge and apply a chemical that stops the specific ‘problem’ part of the nail from growing back.
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We start by cleaning and disinfecting the site – not just the toe but the front half of your foot, to minimise the risk of any foreign particles coming in contact with the toe during this procedure
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We then inject the toe with a local anaesthetic using a thin needle
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Once we confirm that your toe is numb, we carry out the procedure where we remove the small portion of the nail that is growing into the skin and causing you pain
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With your permission, we then apply a chemical called phenol to destroy some of the nail growing cells, so that edge of the nail does not continue to grow back and cause you pain
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We dress the toe to promote best healing
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We book you in for a dressing change and give you the low-down on how to best care for your toe in the meantime
Why We Love The PNA Treatment For Painful Ingrown Toenails
This procedure is simple – you sit back with your phone, a book, or an iPad as a distraction for the kids, and your painless procedure is completed within an hour. No extra time off work or school is needed, though we do recommend taking it easy for the remainder of the day and putting your feet up.
You don’t need to wear any boots or braces after the procedure – we recommend going home in a jandal on the affected foot and not wearing shoes that may press on the toe inside the house. There is usually very little discomfort after the procedure, and any discomfort that does arise can be taken care of using appropriate painkillers.
After we apply a sterile dressing to your toe, we provide you with a take-home dressing pack and re-dressing instructions, and monitor your progress to ensure it is healing well.
Ingrown Nail Treatment FAQs
Will I need time off work after my ingrown toenail surgery?
Aside from the time it takes to perform your procedure (approximately 60 minutes), no you don’t need to take any additional time off work or school. We do, however, recommend taking it easy on your feet for the rest of the day following your procedure and resting as much as possible. Some jobs are better suited to allow this than others, so please use your discretion to allow the healing and repair to begin and achieve healing in the fastest time possible. Because conservative treatments are very minimally invasive, most patients return to work immediately with no issues, even with jobs that see them on their feet for the rest of the day. Just ensure your footwear is not tight around the toes. To maximise your downtime and rest with regards to work, you may choose to book your procedure in on a Friday so you have the weekend to rest.
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Will I be able to wear normal shoes after the procedure?
Yes, you can wear any shoes as long as they can accommodate your dressed toe. The dressings are relatively thick for the first few days after your procedure and you want to avoid pressure on the affected toe as much as possible to achieve the quickest healing time. It can take a week to change from the thicker dressing to a simple thin dressing so you will need to be mindful of your footwear choice in this time. For shoes with a good, spacious toe-box, this isn’t usually an issue. For shoes that have narrow, tight or pointed toes, you may need to look for a comfortable temporary alternative. You will be able to feel the difference in your toe with different shoes so can use that as a guide to help direct your choice of footwear. To play it safe, you may want to bring a pair of open sandals or jandals with you to your appointment.
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Is there anyone that can't have ingrown nail surgery?
While most people can undergo ingrown nail surgery, some exceptions do exist. This is mainly those with a very limited blood supply to their feet that impairs their ability to heal. Those with a poor track record of healing wounds on the feet or with non-healing foot and leg ulcers will be examined thoroughly by our podiatrists to determine their eligibility for these procedures. A person will only be deemed unfit for these procedures where the risks of not healing outweigh the benefits of the procedure and it is deemed unsafe for them. Even then, they may still be able to have conservative ingrown nail care to alleviate their pain and discomfort. If you fall into this category, your podiatrist will discuss everything with you during your appointment.
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Is the ingrown nail procedure safe?
Absolutely. Our procedures are grounded in clinical evidence and a long history of successful outcomes in the field of podiatry. As board-certified podiatrists, we comply with every safety and hygiene protocol and requirement, which are extensively documented and audited regularly. Furthermore, your podiatrist assesses each person and nail thoroughly and uses their years of clinical experience to ensure maximum safety. Safety is a high priority for us and is non-negotiable, hence the exclusion of certain individuals from the eligibility of our procedures where safety may be compromised.
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Can kids have ingrown toenail surgery?
Yes, of course. We treat plenty of kids every year that are suffering from ingrown toenails. The type of procedure that is most suitable will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will be guided by age and history. For first-time ingrown toenails or young children, conservative nail care is usually the best option.
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