After Ingrown Toenail Surgery Does The Nail Grow Back? You Need To Know

Sometimes surgical removal is the only option of treatment for an ingrown toenail. Conditions like Ram’s Horn Nails also need the podiatrist to perform the same procedure. But that’s not what we’re talking about.

Here, we’re going to discuss the answer to an important question related to ingrown toenails. And that is, after ingrown toenail surgery does the nail grow back?

When it comes to toenail removal, it can be complete or partial. But when the condition gets worse, there is nothing better than permanent removal. This procedure requires the doctor to cut the root layer that does the job of producing keratin.

This layer is the nail matrix, and it’s responsible for the creation and growth of the nail. Permanent toenail removal is a process that podiatrists perform on adults and children. Particularly those who have to deal with severe infections due to ingrown toenails.

The Different Nail Avulsion Methods

After ingrown toenail surgery does the nail grow back? The answer depends on the type of procedure you opt for. So let’s discuss them all below.

Partial Nail Avulsion

This form of treatment eliminates the ingrown or affected part of your toenail. And the doctor does this with the help of surgical scissors. Injecting the toe with a local anesthetic is the first step before doing anything else.

After the completion of the procedure, the cut-out part of the nail takes four months to grow.

Complete Nail Avulsion

Complete toenail removal may sound like a painful procedure, but it’s not. This is when the infection spreads under the toenail. The surgical method to remove the infected toenail is the same as partial nail avulsion. The only difference is that the podiatrist cuts away the entire nail.

Once the healing process gets over, the area develops a healthy skin. And within a year, you’ll spot the growth of a new, fresh toenail.

Permanent Nail Avulsion (Matrixectomy)

Matrixectomy is an option to consider if you suffer from a chronic ingrown nail. It’s when partial or complete nail avulsion treatment along with other methods fails to work. This means that the excruciating pain due to the infection still exists, right? And that is why doctors recommend permanent toenail removal.

To carry out this procedure, the podiatrist applies either sodium hydroxide or phenol. You can also destroy the matrix by using electrocautery ablation or laser.

So the toenail and its nail plate get eliminated, which takes away all the pain. The healing process tends to last for a few weeks. Following which healthy skin develops in that region. And this layer soon starts to look like a healthy toenail.

Ingrown Toenail Surgery

After Ingrown Toenail Surgery Problems

Toenail removal complications are uncommon. The only problem that one might face arises after the matrixectomy procedure. On rare occasions, the toenail tends to grow back. This happens due to incomplete matrixectomy.

Another issue that you might have to deal with is a postoperative infection. But this only happens if you don’t take proper care after toenail removal. And you should also know that tenderness and drainage are normal.Only if they occur for less than two weeks following the surgery.

Toenail Removal Recovery

After ingrown toenail surgery does the nail grow back? You know that it does with partial and complete nail avulsion methods. But what you probably don’t know is the recovery process of surgical toenail removal.

After the procedure, the bandage on the toenail stays on for at least two weeks. The affected foot needs to remain in an elevated position. Most patients can walk easily once the infected toenail leaves the foot.

The first few nights after the surgery might cause some pain. To deal with this, your doctor will prescribe medication.This will include Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. These help in reducing the severe post-op pain. And in less than two weeks, walking and other daily activities will not seem so painful.

To speed up recovery, many patients soak their feet in lukewarm water with Epsom salt. You can do this for as long as 20 minutes even twice daily. After soaking the toenail, don’t forget to apply some topical antibacterial on it. Then cover it up back again.

Also, don’t forget to pay a visit to your doctor during the two weeks. It helps in treating any signs of infection after ingrown toenail surgery.

Conclusion

Toenail removal surgery involves the partial or complete avulsion of the infected toenail. So after ingrown toenail surgery does the nail grow back? It does, in this case. But it doesn’t when the doctor performs permanent toenail removal surgery. This is also known as matrixectomy.

The process of matrixectomy requires permanent removal of the toenail and nail plate. On top of that, the doctor uses a chemical in that particular region to prevent nail regrowth.

So this is all you need to know about the surgical procedures of an ingrown toenail. It’s important to discuss your condition with a podiatrist to get the best treatment. Don’t wait for the infection to get worse and cause even more pain. It’s better to treat the condition as soon as you spot the first few symptoms.

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Sources:

1. http://www.footvitals.com/surgery/toenail-removal.html

2. http://www.faant.com/library/what-to-expect-after-ingrown-toenail-surgery-treatment-.cfm

3. http://www.beyonddisease.com/ingrown-toenail-treatment