Ingrowing toenail
What is an Ingrowing toenail?
'Would you go to the doctor for a toothache? No, why go to the doctor for an Ingrowing toenail?'
An ingrowing toenail occurs when the nail grows into and pierces the surrounding skin. The toe(s) may become red and inflamed and you may notice bleeding or pus coming from the area. It can be extremely painful and even putting your shoes on may become problematic. Sometimes a toenail may not actually be ingrowing but there is some level of discomfort, this is usually caused by an involuted (curved) or fungal/thickened toenail(s) (known as a nail pathology).
Ingrown toenails and nail pathologies are extremely common and even a minor ingrown toenail can quickly become more of an issue, particularly if an infection takes hold.
If you do happen to go to the GP initially they will often refer you to a podiatrist anyway, so to save yourself time, get in contact with us!
What causes an ingrowing toenail?
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Poor nail cutting
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Picking your nails
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Tight footwear
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Injury
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Family history
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Bony deformities
Regardless of how an ingrowing toenail starts, the treatment can vary from simple conservative management of the condition to more complex surgical procedures.
Early Podiatry intervention is particularly important to help reduce discomfort, pain and possible infection.
Conservative Treatment
Conservative treatment takes up to 30 - 45 minutes, if you are a new patient conservative treatment will be included during your consultation.
Sometimes despite feeling pretty painful it may not look unpleasant and may require only trimming away a small section to help elevate discomfort and stop it ingrowing. We call this sectioning. (known as conservative treatment).
If conservative treatment is unsuccessful, or the ingrowing nail / nail pathology (problem) is too severe, then the "Gold Standard" procedure of nail surgery with Phenolisation can be provided. This has a high success rate to help prevent a return of your symptoms.
During conservative treatment if you require a local anaesthetic (which may be offered to you if the Podiatrist feels it is necessary) this will be charged at an additional cost of £70.
Minor Nail Surgery
Minor surgical intervention is used if the ingrown nail is severe, if conservative care is difficult, or if the ingrown toenail does not respond well to conservative treatment and there is often recurrent infections. Nail surgery is a relatively simple procedure and is a permanent solution to the problem. There are a few different minor surgical procedures that can be utilised by the podiatrist to treat an ingrown toe nail. These can all be performed in the treatment room under a local anaesthetic.
The most common minor surgical procedure is the removal of a portion along the side of the nail, known as a partial nail avulsion. In the worst case scenario it may be necessary to remove the entire nail. At the base of the nail there are cells which cause the nail to grow. Unless something is done to remove these cells then the nail will grow back, often in the same way it has done previously. A chemical (phenol) is applied to destroy these cells and prevent nail re-growth. After the surgery you will need to keep your foot elevated for a few hours and rest. You can return to work or school the following day. It is advised that you refrain from sports and running for at least two weeks.
Benefits of Nail surgery
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Nail surgery is a permanent cure to your problem
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Pain is relived and the cause of the infection is removed
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Pain free procedure with minimal discomfort afterwards Normal activities can be resumed within 24/48 hours
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Apart from the surgery (which takes around an hour for the appointment) there is no need to take time off work or school
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Being able to wear regular shoes again
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Local anaesthetic, no fasting required
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Partial nail removal is cosmetically acceptable
Does Nail surgery hurt?
It's normal to worry about how painful nail surgery might be. Reassuringly, the only slightly painful part is the injection used to administer the local anaesthetic- very similar to the one you may have in your gums at the dentist. Once the toe is numb, you will not experience any pain while the nail is removed. After the procedure when the local anaesthetic wears off, the toe will be cushioned in a protective dressing. It may feel a little tender but should not be painful at all. You just need to take care not to knock it against something!
Our Podiatrists are experienced in performing nail surgery for those that may be anxious and Charlene who is our nail surgery specialist and fully HCPC registered has performed over 1000 procedures during her career. So rest assured, you are in good hands.
NHS Vs Private- Why should I pay for Nail surgery?
Here at Little London Podiatry, our Podiatrist team prides itself in providing a highly personal, friendly, and profession service.
The cost of nail surgery is a reflection of the expert skill and knowledge required to perform nail surgery safely and effectively to ensure your rapid recovery. Before the procedure our podiatrist will take the time to get to know you and particular toenail problem and provide excellent care before, during, and after the procedure. They are also always on hand to answer any questions or concerns.
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Highly convenient- much shorter waiting time than the NHS
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Personalised service
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Professional treatment and advice from the same Podiatrist throughout the course of your treatment
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Convenient appointment times (Evenings and Saturdays)
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Comfortable and relaxed clinic environment
Patient review on nail surgery (Patient H.E 21/05/2026
'Absolutely life changing nail surgery!! I had been suffering from really bad ingrown toenails on both big toes for about 2 years and always putting it off thinking I had to loose both nails. After months of not being able to walk properly and feeling miserable I decided to contact little London podiatry to see what they could do. Charlene was able to fit me in to her busy schedule within a few days and talked me through the whole process explaining nail surgery was nothing like I thought it was and I actually wouldn’t loose my nails which was amazing!
The nail surgery itself took no longer than 15 minutes and was absolutely pain free. After the surgery I had to keep them wrapped up for a few weeks and was shown how to do that properly by the team, I was sent away with the correct bandages to get me started and a follow up appointment a few weeks later. I can’t explain the difference in such a short period of time. They have healed beautifully and look completely normal again which has totally changed my life. I can wear open toe shoes, high heels and walk totally pain free. I can’t thank the team enough at little London podiatry and really recommend anyone in my situation to give them a call and let them help you like they have me. 10/10!!!!
Minor nail surgery package
Approx 1 hour
£385
The package includes:
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The surgery for one toenail
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Local anaesthetic
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Two review appointments, 1 the day after surgery and the second approximately 6 weeks post op
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A dressing pack for approximately 4 dressings
Nail surgery 2 toes £465 with full package
Please note a deposit of £100 secures booking