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Are you looking to get an ingrown toenail surgery? As soon as we hear the name of the surgery, many things pop up in our minds. There is a list of doubts about the procedure, complications, and recovery. Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem and can be treated without surgery. However, in severe conditions, surgery is the last option. There are multiple treatment methods available. The doctor examines the condition in the first place and then decides which method would be best suited. You can look for a reliable Skin Care Clinic in Rohini to get treatment.
If you have a recurrent ingrown toenail, you should get surgery. But before that, read this article to learn everything related to ingrown toenail surgery.
An ingrown toenail is a medical condition in which the edge of a toenail gets embedded into the skin along the side of the toe or becomes curled up. It happens mostly with the big toe but can also occur in the nails of the other toe. Various causes of ingrown toenails include wearing tight-fitting shoes, trauma, or clipping the toenails too short. Moreover, it can be hereditary as well. Several home remedies can cure this problem, such as using Epsom salt soaks and topical antibiotic ointment. However, if there isn't any pain relief, the patient should consult a podiatrist and get toenail removal surgery done.
Ingrown toenail surgery is a surgical method that is performed by giving local anesthesia to the patient. Two shots of local anesthesia, such as Novocaine, are given at the base of the toe before starting the process. It takes around 10-15 minutes to numb the toe. After the toe gets numb, a specialized clipper designed for treating ingrown toenails is used to cut that nail. After cutting the nail, small forceps are used to remove the offending nail border. Further, a dilute acid named phenol is used to cauterize the nail bed to prevent it from happening again. Lastly, the toe is bandaged after applying antibiotic ointment and soft dressing. This surgery is performed at various Skin Care Clinics in Rohini.
There are various types of ingrown toenail surgeries. It depends on the toenail's condition and the doctor's choice. The common ingrown toenail surgeries are:
In this type of ingrown toenail surgery, the doctor removes a portion of the toenail to prevent it from getting inside the skin. This method is also called partial nail avulsion, where permanent toenail removal is not done.
Sometimes in severe conditions, the doctor decides to remove the entire toenail. However, removing the entire toenail can lead to the recurrence of the same condition. It takes around 18 months for the toenail to regrow fully. This method is also known as complete nail plate avulsion, where permanent toenail removal is done.
When other surgeries don't suit the condition of the patient, then the doctor removes or reshapes the soft tissue present at the tip of the toe in this ingrown toenail nail surgery.
This method is adopted when wedge resection or nail removal surgeries fail. In this, the nail bed is removed along with the nail.
After the ingrown toenail nail surgery, the patient is asked to stay at home to give footrest for at least a day. However, crutches are not required. Elevation can lead to less drainage and swelling. In the evening, the bandage can be removed, and the patient can take a bath. Using Epsom salt soaks for 5 minutes once or twice a day is advisable. This helps reduce the redness and swelling that might occur after the process. A topical antibiotic ointment is often prescribed by the doctor, who should be applied on the toenail daily. Moreover, the toe should be covered with a band-aid at least two weeks after the surgery. However, one can resume regular activity and wear shoes after two days of the toenail surgery.
Toenail surgery is a minor surgery; thus, there are very low chances of complications. However, potential complications such as visible narrowing of the toenail, infection, thickening or discolouration, and recurrence are possible. Recurrence of the ingrown toenail is one of the major complications which can occur after toenail surgery. There is an 8% chance of recurrence after surgery. It's very rare to develop multiple recurrent ingrown toenails; however, it can be frustrating if it happens. A tiny sliver of the nail is removed, and the nail plate becomes slightly narrow after the ingrown toenail nail surgery. The multiple occurrences of the ingrown toenail lead to multiple surgeries, making the toenail narrower and more noticeable. However, there are very few chances of this occurrence. Another complication that bothers the patients is toenail thickening. The toenails become discolored and thickened when it regrows after the infection or trauma. Moreover, infections and injury can lead to scarring along the nail bed, which makes the nail appear thickened after regrowth. Other than these, there are chances of infection named paronychia after the ingrown toenail surgery. However, this infection can be treated by taking oral antibiotics.
Ingrown toenail, technically called Onychocryptosis, is the most common condition in people. This medical condition occurs when the toenail grows down inside the skin. This condition can be treated by home remedies such as wearing sandals rather than shoes, avoiding putting pressure on toes, soaking the toe in warm water, and keeping the toe area clean to let it heal on its own. However, when nothing works, then the person should visit the doctor for toenail removal surgery.
People who suffer from other medical conditions such as nerve damage, poor circulation, or diabetes should not try treating their ingrown toenails at home but should take help from a doctor. There are various Skin Care Clinics in Rohini where you can get your treatment done. Besides, an ingrown toenail can irritate the skin and makes it easier for bacteria and other microorganisms to get inside, causing skin infections. It is important to take quick action in such conditions. Swelling, extreme pain, pus, fever, and redness are all signs of infections. If things get worse, permanent toenail removal is required to be done.
The bottom line is that an ingrown toenail is a medical condition that should be treated immediately to prevent the foot from getting further infected. Your doctor will advise you whether you need ingrown toenail surgery or whether it can be treated with medicines.
If you are suffering from an ingrown toenail condition and looking for surgery, you can book your appointment at Skinalaya to get toenail removal surgery done by the best doctors.
