Ingrown toenail surgery is usually an outpatient procedure that involves the use of local anesthesia. Local anesthesia means that the person remains awake, but the doctor numbs the area so that the person cannot feel their toe
The most common surgeries for ingrown toenails include:
- Wedge resection. Here, a doctor removes a portion of the toenail to prevent it from digging into the skin. This procedure is also called a partial nail avulsion.
- Toenail removal. A doctor may decide to remove the entire toenail. Removing the whole nail makes it more likely that the nail will grow back misshapen or deformed, which can increase the risk of future ingrown toenails. It can take up to 18 months for the nail to regrow fully. This procedure is also called complete nail plate avulsion.
- Surgery on the tip of the toe. If other surgeries are unsuitable for a person, or previous procedures have failed, a doctor may remove and reshape the soft tissue at the tip of the toe.
- Matrixectomy. This procedure may be necessary if nail removal or wedge resection fails. It involves the removal of the nail bed in addition to the nail.
