Services / Nail Surgery
Nail surgery
You’ve tried soaking it, trimming it, ignoring it. Some ingrown nails need a little more help — and that’s okay. “Surgery” sounds daunting; this procedure isn’t.
Ingrown toenails often keep coming back because of the nail’s natural shape or curve, tight or narrow footwear, or the way a nail has previously been cut — trimming too short or rounding the corners can encourage the nail to dig into the skin as it regrows.
What’s involved
When it becomes a recurring pattern rather than a one‑off, ongoing soaking and trimming tends to manage the symptoms without addressing why it keeps happening. The procedure itself involves numbing the toe completely with local anaesthetic, then removing the specific portion of nail that’s causing the problem — often with a treatment applied to the nail bed afterwards to reduce the chance of that section regrowing. Most people are able to walk out afterwards, with some tenderness expected over the following days as it heals.
It’s worth discussing this option if the same nail keeps becoming ingrown despite home care, or if pain, redness or swelling is present alongside it — ongoing management isn’t the only option once it’s become a repeating pattern.
What to expect
- An unhurried consultation, options explained first
- A straightforward, in‑clinic procedure under local anaesthetic
- Clear aftercare instructions, understood before you leave
Funding: Private Health, SIRA, Medicare CDM/EPC and DVA are all accommodated. As a Bupa Members First and HCF More for Feet provider, eligible members may see a higher rebate on this procedure too, claimed same‑visit.
Reviewed by Burwood Podiatry. This page is general information, not a diagnosis — book an assessment for advice about your own feet.