The questions people ask us about ingrown toenails and toenail surgery.
A lot of people ask us “is toenail surgery painful?” along with a bunch of other really interesting questions. So to save time and hassle, we thought it would be a good idea to get some of these frequently asked questions answered for you in our latest blog post. So here they are…
Is ingrown toenail surgery painful?
Ingrown toenail surgery itself is not painful because the Podiatrist will give you a Local Anaesthetic before starting the procedure. Therefore, your toe will be numb for the duration of the procedure and usually for approximately one hour following the completion of your Nail Surgery.
What are the possible complications / risks of toenail surgery?
As nail surgery is carried out using a Local Anaesthetic, rather than a General Anaesthetic, there are very few risks associated with having this procedure done.
Below are some points that you need to be aware of before having the nail surgery. The Podiatrist will be happy to discuss any of them in more detail at your request.
- Post-operative infection.
- Skin burn from phenol application.
- Allergic reaction to Local Anaesthetic.
- 5% chance of nail regrowth.
- As the wound heals you should expect a large volume of yellow discharge. This is completely normal, and part of the healing process.
- Some patients are left with a niggling pain or a tingling sensation.
- During partial nail surgery, sometimes the remaining nail can become loose due to the impact of removing the sides.
What is the recovery time?
We usually recommend that you take 2 days off work. The first day is for the nail surgery and the next day is for a redressing follow-up appointment to check that everything went well and there are no post-operative complications. Although on the day, the nail surgery only takes approximately one hour to complete, we advise that you take the rest of the day off so that you can go home and put your feet up. The following day, the patient will not be able to put on any outdoor shoes, as the dressing applied during the operation is extremely thick and bulky.
After the follow-up appointment, the patient is required to redress their toe daily and carry out saltwater baths. This is required to minimise post-operative infection and help the healing process.
How quickly can nail surgery be booked?
We understand how painful an ingrown toenail can be, especially when it affects a child or becomes infected. Therefore, we strive to offer you the earliest available appointment, usually within one to two days after your initial consultation. We can also provide emergency appointments or out of hours appointments, subject to availability, but a surcharge will apply.
How much does it cost?
We offer a complete care nail surgery package. This includes Local Anaesthetics, the nail surgery / avulsion procedure, all dressings, two follow-up appointments, and unlimited phone/email aftercare. For more information, please visit our prices page.
I prefer not to have Toenail Surgery. Is there any other option?
Depending on the severity of your ingrown toenail, the Podiatrist maybe able to offer you an ingrown toenail brace. This is a non-surgical solution and pulls the nail up as it grows, in order to give you relief. This option works well in retraining the nail to grow straight. It is a great option for patients who cannot have nail surgery for medical reasons or are too afraid to have it.
