Ingrown toenails can range from mildly uncomfortable to majorly painful, and not only can they be hard to treat correctly on your own, the problem can return unless other lifestyle changes are made. When an individual hasn’t been able to rectify their ingrown toenail on their own, they oftentimes turn to a foot specialist for additional assistance, who may recommend a very minor surgical procedure.
In today’s blog, we go into greater detail about ingrown toenail removal and the recovery process.
What Happens During Ingrown Toenail Surgery?
If you haven’t been able to get the nail bed back along the correct growth path with conservative measures, your foot specialist may suggest a minor procedure to remove part or all of the offending nail. It may seem like a big fuss for a minor issue like an ingrown toenail, but the procedure is quick and involves minimal discomfort, and many people are more than happy with the results.
Prior to the procedure, your foot specialist will determine whether they will remove the entire nail (nail avulsion) or part of the problemed nail (wedge excision). Other techniques could also be used, but these are far and away the two most common procedures for addressing an ingrown toenail. In most instances, a local anesthetic will be administered a few minutes prior to the procedure. The surgeon will then confirm that the numbing agent has kicked in by asking if you can feel pressure or discomfort when manipulating your toe. Once numb, they’ll get to work, oftentimes removing a portion or the entire nail bed in just a couple of minutes.
After the nail has been removed, the nailbed will be addressed with some minor padding and bandages. You’ll be able to put your foot back into a sock and a shoe or slip your foot into a sandal depending on the weather in order to leave the clinic. Your toe will still be numb from the procedure, but you’ll be able to walk on the foot right away, which much less discomfort than you had before. It may still be easiest to have someone else drive you back from the clinic, especially if it was a toe on your right foot being addressed. Most providers will recommend that you take it easy for a day or two after the procedure and that you take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories for any pain and discomfort.
Recovering From Ingrown Toenail Surgery
Your foot specialist will give you some individualized advice on how to best recover following ingrown toenail removal surgery, but some common recommendations include:
- Avoiding athletics or intense exercise for a few days.
- Changing your dressing regularly and applying antibiotic ointment to the area.
- Going barefoot when in safe environments for the toe.
- Wearing shows with a wide toe box in the event that you need to go to school or work the next day.
- Keeping the wound site clean and as dry as possible.
- Elevating your foot above your heart to help control swelling in the area.
As for your recovery, you can usually return to most low-impact daily activities the day after your operation. Return to school or office work can be managed as long as you work to protect the toe area, and higher impact activities can be pursued based on your comfort levels as you take on bigger stresses. The key here is to avoid doing additional damage to the toe or increasing your risk of an infection by making it easier for bacteria to enter the wound site. Again, it is best to follow your doctor’s specific instructions based on your surgery and day-to-day physical demands.