Ingrown Toenail Surgery

Sometimes, prevention methods are just not enough to stop ingrown toenails from occurring or returning. This is where ingrown toenail removal surgery comes in! Depending on your needs and the frequency of your ingrown toenails, a different procedure might be right for you.

What to Expect

Our Chiropodists will recommend a surgical procedure called a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) to permanently prevent regrowth of the ingrown toenail. This surgery is best for patients who regularly suffer from ingrown toenails and are seeking a permanent solution. In this surgery, the toe is numbed with local anesthetic, and a small portion along the side of the toenail is completely removed. Next, the toe is treated with a special chemical to disallow for regrowth. After surgery, the nail will be slightly narrower, but will appear normal (and ingrown free!).

The anesthetic will typically wear off within 1 to 2 hours after the surgery is complete. Patients are able to weight bear immediately following the procedure, and typically heal within one week. There is usually minimal pain associated with this procedure, allowing patients to quickly return to their normal activities. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled for one week after the nail surgery to check on progress of the healing and to ensure there are no signs of infection.

  • The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during the surgery. After the procedure, some tenderness is expected for a few days, but it’s usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief and proper aftercare.

  • Most patients return to normal activities within 1–2 days, though full healing of the nail bed may take a few weeks. We provide detailed aftercare instructions to help ensure a smooth recovery and reduce the risk of recurrence.

  • In many cases, a chemical is applied to the nail root during surgery to prevent the ingrown portion from growing back. This significantly reduces the chance of recurrence. Although rare, regrowth is still possible and may require additional treatment.