Ingrown Toenail Surgery in Austin, Buda, and Kyle, TX
Ingrown toenails can be incredibly painful, and in severe cases, they may require surgical intervention. If you’ve been struggling with recurring or infected ingrown toenails, surgery might be the most effective solution for lasting relief. It’s important to understand ingrown toenail surgery and when it may be needed so that you can find relief from pain and avoid serious complications that could occur otherwise.
Understanding Ingrown Toenail Surgery
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge or corner of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, causing redness, swelling, pain, and sometimes infection. The condition most commonly affects the big toe and can result from trimming your toenails too short, tight or ill-fitting shoes, and trauma to the toe.
Mild ingrown toenails can often be managed at home or with conservative treatments, such as soaking the foot, over-the-counter remedies, or wearing more comfortable shoes. When these methods don’t provide the relief you need, it may be time to talk to your podiatrist about surgery.
Several surgical procedures are available to address ingrown toenails. The choice of procedure depends on the severity of the condition. Partial nail removal is when the ingrown portion of the toenail is removed. This helps to relieve pain and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Complete toenail removal may be needed for severe or chronic cases where the nail repeatedly becomes ingrown. Your toe is numbed, and the entire nail is removed. This allows the nail to grow properly and provides you relief from pain.
If you deal with recurring ingrown toenails, you may need a matrixectomy. This is when the tissue that produces the nail is removed to prevent regrowth.