Ingrown Toenail Surgery — Permanent Solution

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling, redness, and sometimes infection. While mild cases can often be managed conservatively, recurring or severe ingrown nails may require a minor surgical procedure for permanent resolution.

At Lower Limb Clinic, we perform partial nail avulsion (PNA) under local anaesthetic—a straightforward procedure that removes the problematic section of nail and prevents it from growing back. With a 98% success rate, this is the gold-standard treatment for persistent ingrown toenails.

We offer two approaches depending on your needs and preferences:

Quick Fix (Conservative Removal): For patients wanting fast relief, we can remove the offending nail edge under local anaesthetic without phenol. This is a minimally invasive option with quick healing times, ideal if you need a rapid solution. However, it's important to know that the ingrown nail will usually reoccur without phenolisation.

Partial Nail Avulsion (Permanent Solution): We remove the problematic section of nail (usually 2-3mm from the edge) and apply phenol to the nail matrix to prevent regrowth. This preserves the natural appearance of your nail while permanently solving the ingrown nail problem. If you've already had a pre-assessment appointment and decide to proceed with nail surgery, the cost of your pre-assessment will be deducted from the surgery price.

Total Nail Avulsion: In rare cases where the entire nail is problematic, we may recommend removing the whole nail. This is only suggested when absolutely necessary.