What Is Ingrown Toenail Surgery?
Ingrown toenails that keep coming back often need a minor procedure to remove the problem edge of the nail. All our podiatrists perform nail surgery here at the clinic under local anaesthetic, with no hospital stay needed. Sterile instruments and aseptic technique are used throughout. At Manly Foot Clinic, we are able to offer both the partial nail avulsion and Winograd procedure for ingrown nails.
When a toenail is ingrown, it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This “digging in” of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.
If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odour. However, even if the toe isn’t painful, red, swollen, or warm, a nail that curves downward into the skin can progress to an infection.
Who It Helps
Surgery suits a nail that is painful, infected, or keeps growing back into the skin after conservative care. A single episode may settle with conservative treatment; a nail that has become ingrown again is the usual reason for removing part of the nail root.
A painful or infected nail
After examining the toe, Ozan will select the treatment best suited for you. If an infection is present, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed. Sometimes a minor surgical procedure, often performed in the office, will ease the pain and remove the offending nail.
A nail that keeps coming back
Some nails may become ingrown again, requiring removal of the nail root.
What to Expect
The procedure is usually completed in one visit, with a short review afterwards.
Assessment first
Your podiatrist examines the toe, checks for infection and asks how often the nail has been a problem. That decides whether part of the nail border or the nail root is removed.
The treatment
After applying a local anaesthetic, Ozan removes part of the nail’s side border. Following the nail procedure, a light bandage will be applied.
A short course
Most people experience very little pain after surgery and may resume normal activity the next day.
Review and progress
A review appointment checks healing and the dressing. The clinic has not published a recurrence rate after nail root removal, so this page does not state one; your podiatrist explains the likelihood for your nail at the assessment.
Why Consider Ingrown Toenail Surgery at Manly Foot Clinic
- Performed on site by any of the clinic’s podiatrists, under local anaesthesia, without need for hospitalisation.
- The Manly Foot Clinic has onsite sterilisation and guarantees sterility of all instruments used for treatments.
- Serving the Northern Beaches since 1989.
What it costs
Consultation fees are published on our FAQ page. The fee for the nail procedure itself is not published and is quoted at your assessment.
Ingrown Toenail Surgery FAQs
Ingrown toenails that keep coming back often need a minor procedure to remove the problem edge of the nail. All our podiatrists perform nail surgery here at the clinic under local anaesthetic, with no hospital stay needed. Sterile instruments and aseptic technique are used throughout. At Manly Foot Clinic, we are able to offer both the partial nail avulsion and Winograd procedure for ingrown nails.
The procedure is done after applying a local anaesthetic. Most people experience very little pain after surgery and may resume normal activity the next day.
Some nails may become ingrown again, requiring removal of the nail root. Manly Foot Clinic has not published a recurrence rate, so this page does not state one; your podiatrist explains the likelihood for your nail at the assessment.
All instruments are sterilised on site to Australian standards, and procedures use aseptic technique.
No, you can book directly without a referral. If you’d like, we’ll send a short report to your GP after your appointment so your foot care stays part of your overall health record. If your appointment is through a Medicare care plan, DVA or another funded program, you will need a referral, so check with us when you book.
Serving Manly and the Northern Beaches.
Manly Foot Clinic is at Shop 3/3 Corrie Rd, North Manly, NSW 2100, and treats ingrown toenails for patients from Manly, Dee Why, Brookvale, Freshwater and Balgowlah. Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:00am to 2:00pm.