
Expert Care for Ingrown & Damaged Nails

What is Nail Surgery?
- Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA): Removal of just the affected side(s) of the nail, often used for ingrown or involuted nails
- Total Nail Avulsion (TNA): Removal of the entire nail, usually for severe fungal infections or extensively damaged nails

What to Expect During and After the Procedure
- The procedure is carried out in our Cheltenham clinic with sterile, professional care
- You’ll receive a local anaesthetic to numb the area, making the surgery virtually painless
- After surgery, your foot will be dressed for optimal healing
- We schedule a follow-up appointment the very next day to remove dressings and check progress
- You will be taught how to change your dressing daily at home
- A second follow-up around two weeks later ensures your nail is healing well and any concerns are addressed

Benefits of Nail Surgery
- Rapid relief from nail pain and discomfort
- Effective treatment for stubborn ingrown or infected nails
- Prevents recurrent infections and complications
- Minimally invasive with a high success rate
- Supported by a caring, expert podiatry team throughout recovery

FAQs
How painful is it?
You will feel a mild discomfort with the local anaesthetic, but then your toe will feel numb. It takes away the pain sensation but you will still feel some pressure during the procedure. We will check in with you regularly to make sure you are feeling well.
Will it be sore after the procedure?
Generally speaking, there is very little discomfort the night of the operation or during the healing period. Any pain is usually easily controlled by paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not use aspirin or products that contain aspirin, as this could encourage bleeding).
What will my nail look like after?
If you have a partial nail avulsion, your nail will appear slightly thinner in appearance as we would have taken the sides out. We can apply a chemical called phenol to the nail matrix which prevents it from growing back and re-offending. If you have a total nail avulsion, the skin will harden once exposed to the air and after 6-8 weeks, a tougher skin will develop where the nail used to be. Many ladies paint this skin and the surgery goes virtually unnoticed.