Do You Need Ingrown Toenails Surgical Treatment?
Or Are Your Toenails Suited To A Non-Invasive Toe Procedure?
You have an ingrown toenail and are thinking about what you can do. While non-invasive treatments promise a painless solution, surgical removal with the help of a podiatrist promises a faster fix.
But which is best for you? Should you go with the tried-and-true method of surgery, or could a more modern, painless method like the BS Brace or the Onyfix system help you feel better?
To help you make an informed choice, let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
Understanding Ingrown Toenails & Foot Health
Before you can fully understand an ingrown toenail, you should know that it happens when the corner or side of your toenail grows into the soft skin of your toe.
This can cause pain, redness, and even an infection.
It can be easy to tell if you have an ingrown toenail. It is important that you notice these signs right away and get help from a professional.
Your body is telling you to pay attention to the pain you’re feeling. Most of the time, podiatrists can remove ingrown toenails, but it’s better to keep the problem from getting worse in the first place.
You might be wondering how to get rid of an ingrown toenail before it needs surgery.
The answer is to keep your feet clean and wear shoes with lots of room for your toes to move.
Still, don’t wait to see a podiatrist if an ingrown toenail is really hurting you or shows signs of infection.
Non-Invasive Treatment Options To Fix Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails can be treated in a number of ways that don’t involve cutting the nail again.
All of these treatments are meant to ease pain and help toenails grow faster without the need for invasive surgery.
Proper nail trimming is one of the easiest and most effective non-invasive ways to treat an ingrown toenail, and a podiatrist can do it expertly to ease your pain and keep it from happening again.
For this important step, you need to cut your toenails across, making sure there are no rounded edges that could cause the nail to grow into the skin.
To keep you from getting an infection, your podiatrist will use clean tools and make sure you are comfortable the whole time. In order to avoid future problems, your podiatrist will also teach you how to take care of your nails properly at home.
Professional nail trimming is a simple but effective way to treat ingrown toenails, and as someone who cares about health and wellness, you can appreciate its usefulness.
Another effective and non-invasive way to treat ingrown toenails is with a BS Brace. This new device gently changes the direction of the nail’s growth to prevent it from entering the skin.
There are several good things about the BS Brace:
- Putting on the brace doesn’t hurt: It is a great alternative if you don’t want to have surgery.
- Correcting your nail: Ingrown toenails are less likely to happen again because the brace changes the direction in which the nail grows.
- Effective Right Away: You’ll start to see progress right away.
- No Breaks in Your Lifestyle: We made the brace so that it wouldn’t interfere with your daily life, like when you walk or put on your shoes.
You might have thought about Onyfix as a way to treat your ingrown toenails without surgery. This new and improved system can straighten out your nails without any pain or harm.
A special resin is used, which hardens and slowly changes the direction of the nail’s growth. As there is no need for anesthesia or cutting, it is a great alternative for people who are scared of surgery. Also, people with diabetes or circulatory problems will love it.
The procedure is quick, and you can go back to your normal activities right away. When you use Onyfix, you don’t just get a short-term fix. Joining a group that values effective treatments that don’t hurt people is a step toward a long-term solution.
However, your podiatrist will ultimately decide what the best way is to treat your ingrown toenails based on your specific case.
But the earlier you get professional help, the more likely it is that a non-invasive solution will work.
Podiatrist Surgery Nail Removal Treatments
In treating ingrown toenails, your podiatrist may opt for surgical removal methods like partial nail avulsion or wedge resection, both performed under local anesthesia so you don’t feel any noticeable pain.
These ingrown toe nail removal procedures are focused on relieving your pain and preventing the recurrence of the ingrown nail.
Here’s a brief rundown of what you can expect with these surgical options:
- Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA): This is the most common surgical procedure for ingrown toenails. Your podiatrist will remove only the ingrown section of your nail, allowing the rest of the nail to remain intact.
- Wedge Resection: In this procedure, your podiatrist will remove a small wedge of your nail and the underlying tissue. This is often used for recurrent or severe cases.
- Post-Procedure Care: After the surgery, you'll be advised on how to clean the area, change the dressings, and recognize signs of infection.
- Follow-up Visits: Your podiatrist will schedule follow-up visits to monitor your recovery and make sure the toenail is growing back correctly.
Pros and Cons of Each Ingrown Toenail Procedure
You can get rid of an ingrown toenail with either partial nail avulsion or wedge resection. However, each has its pros and cons that you should think about.
With partial nail avulsion, only the ingrown part of the nail is cut off. This often means less pain after surgery and faster recovery. You can quickly get back to your normal life with this method.
It does happen more often, though, so you might have to go through the treatment again.
However, wedge resection, which involves cutting off a piece of the nail along with the nail bed, is usually more invasive but has a lower rate of recurrence.
It’s less likely that you’ll have to deal with the same problem again after going through this process. However, it usually takes longer to heal and can cause more pain after surgery.
Ingrown Toenail Prevention Tips
Following a few easy but effective care tips will help you keep your toes healthy and avoid getting painful ingrown toenails:
- Proper Nail Trimming: Cut your toenails straight across, not curved or too short. Over-cutting or curving the edges can cause the nail to grow into the surrounding skin.
- Suitable Footwear: Avoid tight shoes or high heels that can squish your toes and force the nails into the skin. Opt for well-fitted shoes with ample toe room.
- Foot Hygiene: Keep your feet clean and dry. Bacteria and fungi thrive in damp environments and can exacerbate an ingrown toenail condition.
- Routine Foot Checks: Regularly inspect your feet for any redness, swelling, or pain. Early detection can prevent further complications.
In Closing...
It can be hard to navigate the maze of treatments for ingrown toenails. Whether you want to trim your nails non-invasively or undergo a more invasive procedure like wedge resection is something to discuss with your podiatrist.
All treatments have their own pros and cons, and are appropriate based on your specific situation and preferences.
On this journey, remember that prevention is your best friend. That’s why you should keep your nails short and wear the right shoes.
A lot of the time, getting healthy nails is more about the journey than the end goal.
There are a number of potential remedies for ingrown toenails, so it is important that you speak to an experienced Podiatrist about which treatment will work best for your situation – and the sooner the better. The longer you leave an ingrown toenail, the more difficult it will be to resolve.
If you think you may have an ingrown toenail and want the right professional advice on how to treat it, we currently have a limited offer running to help you out. A GAP FREE ingrown toenail assessment consult (only $59 for those without extras private insurance).
Please feel free to book yourself in online or call our friendly Reception on (03) 8104 9270 today.
Ingrown Toenail Infection
Understand how you get ingrown toenails and what treatments you can do to get rid of them once and for all. You don't need to put up with the pain of an ingrown toenail any longer.
