Nail surgery is a minor, surgical procedure performed under local anaesthetic to remove all or part of a toenail that is causing pain, infection, or deformity  to relieve pain, eliminate infection, and prevent the problem from returning. It’s most often used to treat:

• Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis)

• Recurrent nail infections

• Severely thickened or deformed nails

• Nail damage from fungal infections (onychomycosis)

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Ingrown Toenails Surgery:

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An ingrown toenail happens when the nail edge grows into the surrounding skin, causing:

Redness and swelling, sharp pain when wearing shoes or walking, possible infection and discharge.

While mild cases can respond to conservative treatment, persistent or recurrent ingrown nails often need a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) where ingrown section of nail is removed. 

During a PNA:

• The toe is numbed with a local anaesthetic.

• The ingrown section of nail is carefully removed.

• A chemical (phenol) may be applied to stop regrowing.

• A sterile dressing is applied.​

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Fungal Nail Infections

Fungal nail infections can make nails thick, brittle, discoloured, and painful.
Although many respond to topical or oral antifungal treatments, surgery may be considered when:

• The nail is severely damaged or thickened

• The infection has not cleared after months of treatment

• The nail causes discomfort, pressure, or secondary infection

In these cases, a Total Nail Avulsion (TNA) can remove the entire nail plate.
This allows direct treatment of the nail bed and new, healthy nail growth.
If regrowth is not desired, the nail matrix can be treated with phenol to prevent regrowth permanently.

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Aftercare and Recovery

• Keep the toe clean and covered for till the redressing appointment

• Change dressings as advised.

• Wear open-toe shoes until tenderness subsides.

• Avoid swimming or high-impact sports for around 2 weeks.

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Most people return to normal daily activity within 24–48 hours.
Complete healing typically takes 4–8 weeks, depending on the procedure type.

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