Nail Surgery: Ingrown Toenails and Other Common Procedures

Our nails are small, yet they do a lot to keep our fingers and toes safe, help us with fine motor skills, and even tell us how healthy we are overall. When something goes wrong with your nails, such as an ingrown toenail, a chronic infection, or a nail deformity, it can be both painful and annoying. In some cases, the best method to fix the problem could be to have nail surgery.

This blog is about nail surgery, especially for ingrown toenails. It also discusses other standard methods for treating nail problems.

Things You Should Know About Ingrown Toenails

The skin around the nail may ache, become red, swell, and even become infected as the edge of the nail grows into it. Most of the time, this condition affects the big toe, but it can also occur in other toes.

What makes toenails grow in?

• If you don't cut your nails correctly, such as cutting them too short or rounding the corners, they will grow into your skin.
• Shoes that don't fit right: Shoes that are overly tight or have high heels put stress on the toes.
• Injury: An injury to the toenail might influence how it grows.
• Genetics: Some people are born with naturally thick or twisted nails.
• Poor foot hygiene: The skin around the nail can become softer if you sweat excessively or have a fungal infection.

Signs

• Pain or discomfort along the edge of the nail
• Swelling and redness
• Infection with pus or drainage
• Having trouble walking or putting on shoes

When do you need to have surgery?

You don't require surgery for every ingrown toenail. You can often treat mild cases with:

• Taking a bath in warm salt water
• Doing the right thing while trimming and filing
• Creams that include antibiotics
• Putting on shoes that fit well

Surgery is necessary when:

• Pain is bad and keeps coming back.
• There is an infection that persists despite treatment.
• Conservative treatments don't work.
• The nail keeps coming back bizarrely.

Surgical Options for Ingrown Toenails

Various types of surgery can be performed, depending on the severity of the problem and the patient's specific needs.

1. Partial Nail Removal (Partial Nail Avulsion): This is the most common approach to treat toenails that are growing in.

They only peel off the section of the nail that hurts.

You can inhibit the edge from growing back by using a chemical like phenol.

2. Complete Nail Removal (Total Nail Avulsion)

Not a good idea for severely damaged or deformed nails.

A fresh nail might grow again because the nail bed is still there.

3. Removing the nail matrix

Chemicals, lasers, or surgery can damage the nail matrix, which is responsible for the growth of the nail. If you are continually getting ingrown nails, this can happen.

This prevents the edge of the nail from growing back permanently.

4. Resection of the wedge

A piece of tissue and the edge of the nail are cut out together.

This relieves the pressure and stops it from recurring again.

Most of the time, these treatments are done as outpatient procedures with local anesthesia so that patients can go home the same day.

How to Get Better After Nail Surgery

The type of surgery you undergo will affect how long it takes to recover.

• Pain: For a few days, minor pain is normal and can be addressed with over-the-counter drugs.
• Wound Care: It's essential to keep the toe clean, dry, and covered with a clean dressing.
• Activity: You can walk fast after surgery, but you shouldn't do any heavy activity for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Regrowth: If you completely remove your nails, it may take several months for them to regrow.
• Once they are fully healed, most patients experience a significant improvement and can move about more easily.

Other standard procedures for nail surgery

Ingrown toenails are the most prevalent reason for nail surgery, although other conditions may also warrant surgery:

1. Onychomycosis, which is a type of fungal nail infection

Severe fungal infections can cause nails to become thick, change color, and break easily.

If antifungal pills don't work, you can treat the nail bed directly by surgically removing the nail.

2. Nail biopsy

A small portion of the nail or the surrounding skin is removed for laboratory tests.

Helps you discover what's wrong with your nails, including psoriasis, melanoma (skin cancer), or other abnormalities that you can't explain.

3. Fixing the Nail Bed: Accidents or sports injuries can harm the nail bed.

Surgery may involve repairing torn nail tissue or stitching the nail bed back together, allowing it to grow back correctly.

4. Removing nail cancers

Tumors can grow under or around the nail, and they can be either bad or good.

To stop the spread and restore the nail's function, surgery is necessary.

5. Nail cosmetic surgery

Fixing nail problems for either cosmetic or practical reasons.

This is common when birth malformations or deformities occur after an injury has occurred.

Benefits of Nail Surgery

• It helps with pain and suffering for an extended period.
• Prevents recurring nail problems.
• Fights infections well.
• It makes it easier to walk, wear shoes, and do ordinary things.
• Makes you look better and feel better about yourself.

Risks and Issues

There are some dangers with nail surgery, just like with any other kind of surgery, but issues are rare:

• Infection at the site of the surgery
• Longer than average healing of wounds
• Nail deformity or irregular regrowth
• A reaction to anesthesia that is allergic
• Rarely, an ingrown toenail comes back.
• If the operation is done well and the patient takes care of themself thereafter, most complications can be avoided.

Taking care of your nails

It's always better to stop something from happening than to correct it. Here are some simple ways to minimize the chance of having nail problems:

• Cut your nails straight across, not in a curve.
• Don't cut your nails too short.
• Wear comfortable shoes that allow air to flow through.
• Keep your feet clean.
• As soon as you can, get rid of any fungal infections.
• While practicing sports or engaging in strenuous activity, keep your feet protected from injury.

Nail Surgery: Questions and Answers

1. Is nail surgery painful?

Patients don't feel any pain throughout the surgery because they are given local anesthesia. It may feel a little stiff afterward, but it's not a significant concern.

2. How long will it take to become better?

Most people recover in one to two weeks, but if the nail was pulled off, it may take several months for it to grow back completely.

3. Can ingrown toenails come back after surgery?

Yes, but only in sporadic cases. Matrixectomy and similar surgeries significantly reduce the likelihood of the problem recurring.

4. Will I be able to walk after the operation?

Yes, however, patients should avoid strenuous activity until the incision has healed. In a day or two, you should be able to walk normally again.

5. Is it safe for diabetics to have surgery on their nails?

Yes, but you need to be extra careful because people with diabetes are more likely to get infections and take a long time to recuperate. Always talk to an expert.

6. Is it possible for kids to get nail surgery?

Yes. Sometimes kids suffer from ingrown toenails and damaged nails that can only be corrected with surgery.

Conclusion

Surgery on your nails is a safe and effective technique for addressing nail problems that cause discomfort or persist for an extended period. Ingrown toenails are the most common of these conditions, although surgery can also address fungal infections, injuries, tumors, and cosmetic issues. Most procedures these days are quick, require minimal cutting, and are performed with local anesthesia, allowing patients to go home the same day.

If you have long-term nail problems, a dermatologist or podiatric surgeon can help you achieve better health and prevent the condition from worsening. Healthy nails not only make you feel better and move around more easily, but they also make your life better.