If you’ve landed on this article, you’re probably dealing with a nasty nail infection and want to know how to get rid of your nail infection. There are a few ways to go about it, but one of the best and quickest ways is to go in for nail surgery.
To know more about what nail surgery is, who does nail surgery, and how to get rid of a nail infection, read on!
What Is Nail Surgery?
Lots of people ask the question, “What is nail surgery?”. Nail surgery is considered a minor procedure. It is usually conducted under local anesthetic, to help alleviate pain and infection in toenails.
During nail surgery, a podiatrist might remove one or two sections from your nail, on each side. In some forms of nail surgery, your podiatrist may have to remove your whole nail, depending on the extent of infection / injury.
Once the nail surgery is over, the podiatrist will use a form of treatment to prevent the affected nail from growing again.
Who Does Nail Surgery?
Now that you know what nail surgery is, you’re probably wondering who does nail surgery.
Nail surgery is done by certified professional Podiatrists. Never get nail surgery from anyone who is not professionally equipped to handle it.
Why Should You Go In For Nail Surgery?
If you have an ingrown, distorted, or fungal toenail, it could lead to lots of pain and can even get infected further. Most conservative and common treatments in clinics will help alleviate the symptoms for a while, but the issue tends to recur when the nail grows back.
Nail surgery offers a permanent solution to your nail issue, and prevents problems from recurring in the future.
What’s The Alternative to Nail Surgery?
There are a few common routine treatments that act as alternatives to nail surgery. They aren’t permanent solutions, however, and only help for immediate and short-term relief. A common treatment used is cutting the nail back, but the nail often regrows with the same issue.
Every patient is different and has a different pain-tolerance. This is why we aim to alleviate their pain as fast as possible, according to the treatment that suits them best. Though, when a patient comes in with a chronic infected nail, nail surgery is the only safe and viable option.
What Happens In Nail Surgery?
During nail surgery, your podiatrist will inject your affected toe with local anesthetic so you don’t feel pain. After the toe becomes numb, the infected nail or nails are removed. After which, Phenol (a chemical) is applied to the area to prevent the nail from regrowing.
Once this is done, your podiatrist will dress your toe heavily and the dressing will have to stay on for 2-3 days and be kept dry.
After Nail Surgery?
After you’ve gone through nail surgery and the toe has been dressed, you have to keep the dressing dry and on for 2-3 days. After which, you’ll need to redress your toe.
Your podiatrist will give you written instructions on how to redress your toe properly. You’ll have to follow their instructions well. The average healing period after nail surgery is around 3-6 weeks. After your nail surgery, you can return to work in 24 hours. You can only go on with sporting activities once the toe is fully healed.
How Effective Is Nail Surgery?
Nail surgery is a permanent solution to your problem. Regrowth can occur occasionally, but this is in much less than 5% cases out of thousands.
How to Get Rid Of Nail Infection
There are a few home remedies for infected nails, but we advise you to see a podiatrist. These home remedies give instant relief, but aren’t a permanent solution.
A few common home remedies are as follows:
- Snakeroot Extract: Sometimes the best solutions are found in nature. The extract of this antifungal plant can be used to treat fungal nail infections, and has proved to be as effective as ciclopirox, a drug-store anti-fungal treatment.
- Ozone Oils: Oils like sunflower oil and olive oil are oils that contain the same gases that exist in the ozone layer. Many studies have been conducted that have concluded that these “ozonized” oils are effective when it comes to treating nail fungus and may just be the best home remedy on how to get rid of a nail infection. In fact, a study took place in which sunflower oil had higher clinical effects than a common antifungal medication called ketoconazole.
- Oregano Oil: Another proof of the effectiveness of nature is oregano oil. It contains “thymol”, a naturally occurring phenol that is said to have antifungal properties. In treatments, this oil is also combined with tea tree oil, but this increases the risk of negative side effects, irritation, and allergic reaction.
- VapoRub: Though commonly used to treat colds and coughs, vicks vaporub has proved itself beneficial in treating fungal nail infections, in a study done in 2011.
Lots of people ask the question, “What is nail surgery?”. Nail surgery is considered a minor procedure. It is usually conducted under local anesthetic, to help alleviate pain and infection in toenails.
During nail surgery, a podiatrist might remove one or two sections from your nail, on each side. In some forms of nail surgery, your podiatrist may have to remove your whole nail, depending on the extent of infection / injury.
Once the nail surgery is over, the podiatrist will use a form of treatment to prevent the affected nail from growing again.
Who Does Nail Surgery?
Now that you know what nail surgery is, you’re probably wondering who does nail surgery.
Nail surgery is done by certified professional Podiatrists. Never get nail surgery from anyone who is not professionally equipped to handle it.
Why Should You Go In For Nail Surgery?
If you have an ingrown, distorted, or fungal toenail, it could lead to lots of pain and can even get infected further. Most conservative and common treatments in clinics will help alleviate the symptoms for a while, but the issue tends to recur when the nail grows back.
Nail surgery offers a permanent solution to your nail issue, and prevents problems from recurring in the future.
What’s The Alternative to Nail Surgery?
There are a few common routine treatments that act as alternatives to nail surgery. They aren’t permanent solutions, however, and only help for immediate and short-term relief. A common treatment used is cutting the nail back, but the nail often regrows with the same issue.
Every patient is different and has a different pain-tolerance. This is why we aim to alleviate their pain as fast as possible, according to the treatment that suits them best. Though, when a patient comes in with a chronic infected nail, nail surgery is the only safe and viable option.
What Happens In Nail Surgery?
During nail surgery, your podiatrist will inject your affected toe with local anesthetic so you don’t feel pain. After the toe becomes numb, the infected nail or nails are removed. After which, Phenol (a chemical) is applied to the area to prevent the nail from regrowing.
Once this is done, your podiatrist will dress your toe heavily and the dressing will have to stay on for 2-3 days and be kept dry.
After Nail Surgery?
After you’ve gone through nail surgery and the toe has been dressed, you have to keep the dressing dry and on for 2-3 days. After which, you’ll need to redress your toe.
Your podiatrist will give you written instructions on how to redress your toe properly. You’ll have to follow their instructions well. The average healing period after nail surgery is around 3-6 weeks. After your nail surgery, you can return to work in 24 hours. You can only go on with sporting activities once the toe is fully healed.
How Effective Is Nail Surgery?
Nail surgery is a permanent solution to your problem. Regrowth can occur occasionally, but this is in much less than 5% cases out of thousands.
How to Get Rid Of Nail Infection
There are a few home remedies for infected nails, but we advise you to see a podiatrist. These home remedies give instant relief, but aren’t a permanent solution.
A few common home remedies are as follows:
- Snakeroot Extract: Sometimes the best solutions are found in nature. The extract of this antifungal plant can be used to treat fungal nail infections, and has proved to be as effective as ciclopirox, a drug-store anti-fungal treatment.
- Ozone Oils: Oils like sunflower oil and olive oil are oils that contain the same gases that exist in the ozone layer. Many studies have been conducted that have concluded that these “ozonized” oils are effective when it comes to treating nail fungus and may just be the best home remedy on how to get rid of a nail infection. In fact, a study took place in which sunflower oil had higher clinical effects than a common antifungal medication called ketoconazole.
- Oregano Oil: Another proof of the effectiveness of nature is oregano oil. It contains “thymol”, a naturally occurring phenol that is said to have antifungal properties. In treatments, this oil is also combined with tea tree oil, but this increases the risk of negative side effects, irritation, and allergic reaction.
- VapoRub: Though commonly used to treat colds and coughs, vicks vaporub has proved itself beneficial in treating fungal nail infections, in a study done in 2011.
Conclusion
Though you may be tempted to treat your infected toenail at home, it’s always best to see a podiatrist for a permanent and safe solution.
Book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic for the best podiatric care.
Please call us on 0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now
