Chronic, painful, or infected ingrown toenails can significantly impact your mobility and quality of life. When conservative management or antibiotics fail to provide lasting relief, our clinic offers a permanent on-site surgical solution. Under a localised anaesthetic, we perform a partial nail avulsion combined with a chemical matrix ablation to ensure the problem side of the nail stops growing into the skin.

What to Expect During the Procedure:

  • Local Anaesthetic: A local ring-block anaesthetic is gently injected at the base of the toe, completely numbing it before the procedure begins.
  • Wedge Resection: The narrow, ingrown edge of the nail causing the painful inflammation is precisely removed without disturbing the rest of the healthy nail.
  • Chemical Matrix Ablation: A specialised chemical solution (phenol) is safely applied to the exposed nail matrix (the root). This permanently prevents the edge section of the nail from growing back, resolving the root cause of the irritation.
  • Bandaging: The toe is dressed in a thick, highly cushioned protective bandage to manage initial tracking and ensure comfort.

Post-Operative Care & Healing:

Total healing usually takes between 2 to 4 weeks. You will be advised to keep your foot elevated for the first 24 hours and wear open-toed shoes or loose footwear that accommodates the bulky dressing.

FAQs

It is a minor, highly effective procedure performed under a local anaesthetic where the narrow edge of the nail causing the pain is surgically removed, and the regrowth chemical matrix is treated to prevent the issue from returning.

Because your toe will be fully numbed with a local anaesthetic and dressed in a large protective bandage, we advise arranging transport or having someone drive you home from the clinic after the procedure.

Because we apply a chemical treatment to the underlying matrix root during the wedge resection, the success rate is incredibly high, and the chance of the nail edge regrowing or recurring is less than 5%.