Ingrowing Toenails
Ingrowing toenails of all types are treated here, mild to moderate cases can be dealt with using conservative treatment i.e. trimming, re-shaping and packing the nail to allow it to grow out cleanly. For more severe ingrown toe nails local anaesthetic can be used with Nail Surgery to permanently fix the ingrowing side.
I now also have the Onyfix nail brace system, which can correct some ingrown/involuted nails without the need for injections or surgery.
For all cases an initial assessment appointment is needed to choose the best option for each individual.
My diary can get a little busy at times, if you are in pain and cannot find an appointment soon enough, email me or call and I will do my best to fit you in sooner.
FAQ ingrown toenail surgery?
1. Can I still have nail surgery if my toe is infected? Yes. It is the ingrown toenail which causes the infection so having nail surgery is actually the solution to the problem and helps the infection to clear. The main issue with infection is sometimes this can affect the workings of the local anaesthetic. Our podiatrists will always thoroughly assess your ingrown toenail before and after nail surgery and will let you know if antibiotics are required at any stage.
2. Are there any contraindications to nail surgery? Yes. Whilst nail surgery is a very safe procedure there are still some contraindications to nail surgery. It is vitally important that you discuss with the podiatrist prior to booking surgery if you: Have a needle phobia or suffer from anxiety Are pregnant/breastfeeding Have allergies to local anaesthetics such as lidocaine or medicaments or to certain dressings or bandages, primarily bactigras Are on blood thinners Have an underlying health condition that may affect surgery Are on any other medication that may affect surgery I will discuss these with you to work out if you are still suitable for nail surgery.
3. Can I have nail surgery if I am pregnant? We advise that nail surgery is best avoided if you are pregnant and conservative treatment options should be explored instead. Whilst local anaesthetics like lidocaine are generally considered safe after the first trimester (12 weeks), caution is the better option. If you are pregnant I advise seeing myself to discuss conservative ingrown toenail treatment options.
4. Can I have nail surgery if I am breastfeeding? With breastfeeding I always take a conservative approach therefore I advise it is best to delay nail surgery until after breastfeeding. Whilst research has shown that the use of a local anaesthetic such as lidocaine during breastfeeding is generally safe, there are some studies that have found local anaesthetics in breastmilk, therefore it is best avoided. For urgent nail surgery where the benefits outweigh the risks I will weigh up the risks on a person by person basis.
5. Do you perform nail surgery on multiple toes? Yes. I will happily perform nail surgery on up to 2 toes in one day. More than 2 toes will require an additional appointment on a different day.
6. When can I wear normal shoes again? Post nail surgery you will have a big bulky dressing on your toe for approximately 2 days and hence you are required to wear open toed sandals or crocs etc. Following removal of this dressing after 2 days you get back into normal footwear. As your toe is still healing it is important that your footwear is appropriate and a comfortable fit. If your footwear is too tight it will compress the sulcus (surrounding tissues) and potentially cause a delay healing.
7. When can I resume my sporting activities? This ultimately depends on healing and the activity but most patients find they can resume sporting activities after 2 weeks. Full healing of your toe will take approximately 6 – 8 weeks post ingrown toenail surgery.
8. Why should I choose you for my ingrown nail surgery? I have been doing nail surgery privately and previously on the NHS for over 25 years now. The chemical technique that I use compared to some other nail surgeries is minimally invasive, yet highly effective. This results in a very high rate of success, minimal post-op pain and faster recovery times. I also guarantee all my nail surgeries against regrowth* I estimate cases of nail segment regrowth at less than 1%. In the unlikely scenario there is nail regrowth causing further issue or the original problem returns then you will be covered under my nail surgery guarantee. In these cases I will happily perform a second nail surgery procedure at no extra cost to fix the original problem.
