Ingrown toenail surgery
Ingrown toenail surgery is used to treat painful or repeatedly infected toenails that have not improved with conservative care. It aims to remove the ingrowing section of nail, relieve pain and reduce the risk of the problem returning.
At Complete Footcare in South Woodford we carefully assess your nail and surrounding skin, discuss non surgical and surgical options, and only recommend surgery when appropriate. Nail surgery is carried out in clinic under local anaesthetic by an experienced podiatrist.
Ingrown toenail surgery can help with
Ongoing pain from an ingrowing or involuted toenail
Recurrent infection, redness or swelling around the nail
Ingrowing nails that keep returning despite proper nail care
Difficulty wearing shoes due to nail pain
Nail problems affecting daily activities or work
Who is ingrown toenail surgery suitable for
Ingrown toenail surgery may be suitable if you:
- Have repeated episodes of an ingrowing toenail
- Experience infection, discharge or ongoing inflammation
- Have pain that has not settled with nail care or footwear changes
- Find the problem keeps returning in the same area
- Are struggling to manage the nail safely yourself
It may not be the first choice if you:
- Have a mild or early ingrowing nail that can be managed conservatively
- Have poor circulation or healing concerns that need careful assessment first
- Have a sudden severe infection requiring urgent medical review
Your podiatrist will always assess the nail and surrounding tissue first and advise whether surgery is the most appropriate option for you.
What happens at your appointment
Assessment and diagnosis
We examine the nail, surrounding skin and any signs of infection, and discuss your symptoms and previous treatments.
Treatment planning
We explain the procedure, healing expectations and aftercare so you know exactly what to expect before proceeding.
Procedure
Ingrown toenail surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic. The painful section of nail is removed and treated to reduce the risk of regrowth.
Follow up and review
We review healing, remove dressings if needed and advise on ongoing nail care and prevention.
Aftercare and home care for ingrown toenail surgery
It is normal for the toe to feel tender for a few days after nail surgery. Keeping the area clean, dry and protected helps reduce infection risk and supports healing.
Your podiatrist will give you personalised aftercare advice, for example:
- Keep the dressing clean and dry as advised
- Avoid tight footwear while healing
- Rest and elevate the foot where possible
General aftercare tips:
- Follow dressing instructions carefully
- Monitor for signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling or discharge
- Take over the counter pain relief if needed, following pharmacy advice
- Contact the clinic if pain worsens or healing does not progress as expected
You can also revisit our ingrown toenail condition page for prevention advice once healed.
Looking for pain free walking?
Book an assessment to discuss whether toe surgery could help relieve your pain and improve comfort when walking.
FAQs
The toe is fully numbed with local anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Mild soreness afterwards is normal and usually settles within a few days.
Most people heal within 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure and individual healing.
Many people return to work within a day or two if their job allows comfortable footwear. Your podiatrist will advise you.
The procedure is designed to reduce the risk of recurrence. Your podiatrist will also advise on nail cutting and footwear to help prevent future problems.
What our patients think of Complete Footcare
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Sally is an excellent podiatrist — highly professional, thorough, and caring. This was our second treatment, and once again she did a fantastic job. A large amount of hard skin and calluses were removed from all around the feet, which had become quite severe, and the improvement afterwards was remarkable. She worked carefully and made the whole experience comfortable and reassuring. Very knowledgeable and clearly takes pride in her work. Highly recommend Sally to anyone needing professional foot care.
Laureen Knight
2 May 2026 -
Lovely people and magnificent service I love it and my feet feel 100% aftet
Ken Milne
29 July 2026 -
I have been going to Complete Footcare for many years and have always received excellent and very professional service from them. They are friendly, efficient and caring and I would have no hesitation in recommending them
Lindsay Eadon
7 April 2026 -
Great Customer Service. Great result. Highly recommend.
Andrew Lester
13 April 2026 -
Excellent care. Very friendly practice.
Mamacitasmama
5 January 2026