You might need a toenail removal for a variety of reasons. It is a small operation, but it is perfectly normal to feel worried about it. To help put your mind at ease, here is everything you need to know about toenail removal…
Why Might You Need Toenail Removal?
There are several reasons why you might need nail surgery, but the most common one is ingrowing toenails. These occur when the edges of your nails grow into the skin around the nail, causing pain and swelling. They frequently cause infections, and the purpose of the surgery is to remove the piece of nail which is ingrowing to relieve pain and stop the infections.
Another cause of toenail removal might be where your nail has become very thick due to, for example, fungal infections or injury. If the nail then causes pain when you wear shoes, your nail might need to be removed.
How Can I Find Out If I Need Toenail Removal?
The first thing to do is to visit your podiatrist if you have pain around your nail. They will be able to undertake an assessment of your foot and diagnose the cause of the pain. They will then tell you what treatment will be necessary, and this might include toenail removal.
Podiatrists are highly trained medical professionals who are qualified in the treatment of conditions in the feet and lower limbs, and they will be able to carry out your surgery for you.
The Surgery Process…
If you do need surgery to remove a nail or part of a nail, it will likely be under local anaesthetic. The longest part of the appointment will be waiting for the anaesthetic to start working, and after this the procedure only takes a few minutes.
Following the surgery, your wound will be dressed and the anaesthetic will begin to wear off after a few hours. You might feel some pain after the anaesthetic wears off, but if you are at all concerned, contact your podiatrist.
Your podiatrist will also be able to advise you about whether you can begin walking again straight away. This is normally the case after a short rest period, but everyone is different.
Where To Go For Toenail Removal
At Northwich Foot Clinic in Cheshire, we offer nail surgery from our trained podiatrists. Our nail surgery package includes your toenail removal operation under local anaesthetic, all of the dressings needed after surgery and while it is healing, and two free follow up appointments. During these follow up appointments, we will check for infections and ensure that the wound is healing properly, so you can be confident that everything is OK.
If, after your full toenail removal surgery, you would like toenail reconstruction, we offer that service too and would be happy to discuss your options with you.
To book your appointment, simply head to our online booking form and select ‘New Patient Podiatry’ or call us on 01606 45077.
