Ingrown Toenail Surgery

Our team of Podiatrists at Performance Podiatry are extensively experienced at performing the most up to date, minimally invasive ingrown toenail surgeries. These toenail surgeries treat the most recurrent, stubborn and problematic of ingrown toenails.

For those of you that suffer from reoccurring and problematic nail issues, we understand your pain! Once you have met with us, your podiatrist will put an individualised treatment plan into place. This may involve performing a minor procedure to permanently resolve the issues. The most common procedures we perform are the Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) and Total Nail Avulsion (TNA).

 

Toenail Surgery and Partial Nail Avulsion

Safe, Effective, Pain-Free and Fast Healing

The most common procedure that we perform is called a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) or wedge resection. In this procedure, the piece of the nail that digs into your skin is removed and a chemical called Phenol is applied to prevent the regrowth of just that section of nail.

The procedure is a routine, simple, in-clinic treatment that takes around 1 hour from entering the clinic to leaving.

This treatment is highly effective, requires minimal downtime and importantly, it results in an immediate improvement in pain. We use special injection techniques to numb the area with Local Anaesthetic to ensure a gentle, straight forward experience for you.

 

Will my toenail look normal afterwards?

At Performance Podiatry, we understand the importance of maintaining the appearance of a beautiful toenail. We always work to give our patients the most cosmetically appealing results by taking only what nail is necessary and using the latest in minimally invasive techniques.

Local Anaesthetic

We understand that no one is particularly fond of receiving needles and others are downright scared. You can rest assured that this is incredibly common and something that our Podiatrists are experienced at managing every day.

We use the smallest gauge needle available and the latest in minimally invasive injections techniques to put you at ease and ensure you have a comfortable and stress-free experience.

If you do have any anxiety in regard to this part of your treatment, please do not hesitate to let your Podiatrist know prior to your appointment so they can answer any questions you may have.

The Ingrown Toenail Surgery Procedure

 

  1. ingrown toenail surgeryYour toe is anaesthetised using our minimally-invasive local anaesthetic technique to ensure the toe is completely numb.
  2. Your podiatrist carefully marks your nail edge. This thorough planning process ensures the Podiatrist only takes out the piece of nail that is necessary and helps to ensure an aesthetically pleasing nail when fully healed.
  3. The nail edge is cut and separated from the edge to the nail base.
  4. Your podiatrist removes the offending piece of nail and cleans out any extra debris in the nail sulcus.
  5. A mild acid called Phenol is applied to destroy the nail matrix. This is the step that ensures the ingrown toenail does not return.
  6. The nail edge is flushed with a saline solution and final inspections are undertaken.
  7. The toe is carefully bandaged and final instructions are issued so that you know how to take care of it.

After the procedure

After the surgery you can expect minimal post-operative pain. You are able to walk immediately afterwards and fit into your normal day to day shoes within 48 hours. In the meantime you can wear open toe shoes such as sandals, slides or thongs. The surgery site takes between 1-5 weeks to heel completely. Normal activity and sports are usually fine to continue with during the healing process.

A ‘redressing and review’ appointment is usually required at both 2-3 days and 1-2 weeks after your procedure.

 

Total Nail Avulsion (TNA)

The second most common surgical procedure we perform for ingrown toenails or thickened toenails is called a Total Nail Avulsion.

Unlike a Partial Nail Avulsion, a TNA removes the whole nail base before the nail matrix is destroyed with Phenol.

We use this procedure only when absolutely necessary. It is generally for patients who have had severely damaged, thickened and problematic toe nails or those with painful recurring ingrown nails that a PNA will not fix.

The TNA means that you will no longer have any toe nail that grows on your toe. This may bother some people but it does mean, importantly, that there is no ongoing issues with ingrown toe nails.

Aftercare

Caring for the toe after a TNA is identical to that of a PNA. You are able to walk immediately afterwards and fit into your normal day to day shoes within 48 hours. This surgery usually heals a little faster; it will take between 1-3 weeks. Normal activity and sports are typically fine to continue with during this process.

A redressing and review appointment is typically required 2 days and 2 weeks after the procedure.

 

Make a podiatrist appointment for an ingrown toenail surgery assessment

Book Online for an ingrown toenail consultation with one of our podiatrists.

From assessment and diagnosis to extraordinary treatment, every step of your journey with us will deliver you the ultimate podiatric experience, resulting in healthier and happier feet.

Book a consultation with our podiatrists in Sydney (Macquarie St)Darlinghurst and Randwick to discuss your condition and we’ll get you pain-free and back to full function as smoothly and quickly as possible, so you can return to the activities and life you love.