What are the symptoms?
- Pain and tenderness around the toenail
- Swelling and redness of the toe
- Fluid buildup in the skin around the toenail
Why ingrown toenail surgery?
Your podiatrist, or foot doctor, may recommend surgery if you have recurring ingrown toenails and remedies can’t resolve your ingrown toenail problem.
What is ingrown toenail surgery?
It involves the removal of a small part of the nail that is growing through the skin and destroying the nail bed beneath. The podiatrist will first clean the toe and inject numbing medicine. Then, the doctor will use tools to separate your toenail from the bed and cut vertically from the side to the cuticle to remove the ingrown nail. After this, the doctor will use either a heated electric device or a solution to stop the bleeding and prevent the ingrown toenail to grow back.
Does it hurt?
The ingrown toenail itself causes pain, so the surgery will help relieve this pain. The toe will be numbed by anesthetic injection that should make you comfortable during the procedure. There might be some pain after the surgery once the numbing medicine wears off. It is common, but can easily be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
What will I do after?
- Rest the foot for the first day or two after the procedure.
- Follow your doctor’s wound care and follow-up instructions to prevent infections.
- You might be prescribed antibiotics if the toenail was already infected.
- Wear open-toed or loose-fitting shoes to give your toe room to heal
- Avoid strenuous activities for about two weeks