INGROWN TOENAIL REMOVAL
We Fix your Ingrown Toenails with ingrown Toenail Removal.
An ingrown toenail is a common, usually painful condition where the nail grows into the skin of your toe or the skin overgrows on the nail.
Often, patients report tenderness from wearing footwear, pressure from the bedsheets at night, and direct pressure. Commonly affected is your big toe, though they can happen with any of your toes. You can usually treat ingrown toenails at home, but if they become sore or infected or routinely occur, you may need ingrown toenail removal by a medical professional. This will fix the condition and prevent the toe(s) from developing more severe complications.
How can I prevent Ingrown toenails?
Please note patients with diabetes and those with poor circulation to the feet must never attempt to treat an ingrown toenail at home. Always consult your Chiropodist /Podiatrist immediately if any signs of infection are present.
01.
Cut the nails straight across
(avoid cutting deep into the corners)
02.
Avoid tight-fitting footwear/socks
03.
Protect your feet from trauma
04.
Obtain routine foot care by a medical professional
Am I a candidate
for ingrown toenail removal?
It is important to note that not all ingrown toenails require removal. Ideal candidates are those who have recurring ingrown toenails with unsuccessful conservative treatments, athletes, or those with medical conditions (such as diabetes) that may develop serious complications from infections.
Benefits of Ingrown Toenail Removal.
Although common, ingrown toenails are not normal.
They can be unsightly, painful, become infected which can spread to the rest of the foot, and limit you from reaching your potential. Removing the ingrown toenail alleviates pain, infection, and recurrence. This will allow you to return to daily shoe-wearing and your everyday activities/sports without pain.
The Ingrown Toenail
Removal Procedure
Ingrown toenail removal is a procedure that takes place at Wasaga Family Foot & Orthotic Clinic.
The procedure involves local anesthesia to ‘numb’ the toe. Patients who are uncomfortable with needles or experience anxiety may opt to receive anti-anxiety medication before the procedure. The entire procedure should take less than 15 minutes to perform per toe. Depending on your nail presentation, goals, and health history, your Chiropodist will discuss the optimal solution to prevent the wedge from returning. We recommend that you wear open-toe shoes on the day of your procedure. You may eat as usual up to the procedure.
Wedge Resection: Partial Nail Avulsion
This is the most common ingrown toenail removal with greater than 97% success. This procedure removes only a few millimetres of the nail edge, and a chemical (matrixectomy) is applied in the corner to prevent the offending edge from growing back.
In cases where the ingrown toenail issue is from trauma/damaged toenails, and there is no history of ingrown toenails, the matrixectomy step may not be required.
Nail Plate Removal: Total Nail Avulsion
Wedge Resection: Partial Nail Avulsion
This is the most common ingrown toenail removal with greater than 97% success. This procedure removes only a few millimetres of the nail edge, and a chemical (matrixectomy) is applied in the corner to prevent the offending edge from growing back.
In cases where the ingrown toenail issue is from trauma/damaged toenails, and there is no history of ingrown toenails, the matrixectomy step may not be required.
Nail Plate Removal: Total Nail Avulsion
Recovery
from Ingrown Toenail Removal
You will be able to walk and drive home after your toenail removal procedure.
Resting and elevating your foot for the first day is recommended. Most patients can return to work or school the day after the procedure. Full recovery should be achieved two weeks after the procedure, but this can vary depending on the severity of the ingrown toenail and your health status.
Other Treatment options
Onyfix
Involuted toenails that curl at the edges can also create ingrown toenail symptoms and be difficult to trim at home. In this case, Onyfix (a discrete pain-free bracing system) may be applied to the toenail to effectively straighten or ‘un-curl’ the toenail. This is an ideal solution for people not candidates for the ingrown toenail removal procedure.
