Ingrown Toenail Procedure, Surgery & Treatment Tuggerah

An ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis) occurs when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness, swelling and sometimes infection. A Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) is a minor in-clinic procedure performed under local anaesthetic that removes the offending edge of the nail to provide lasting relief — and it's one of the most common procedures our podiatry team performs at Blueprint Podiatry.

What Is an Ingrown Toenail?

Ingrown toenails most often affect the big toe. They develop when the nail curves or grows into the skin alongside it, creating a small wound that can become inflamed or infected. Common causes include:

• Incorrect nail cutting (curved or too short)
• Tight or ill-fitting footwear
• Naturally curved or thickened nails
• Trauma to the toe (stubbing, sport, dropped objects)
• Excessive sweating or genetic nail shape

Typical symptoms include persistent toe pain, redness and swelling around the nail, tenderness when pressed, and in some cases pus or fluid leakage indicating infection.

How Does Blueprint Podiatry Assess and Treat Ingrown Toenails?

Our three registered podiatrists each hold a Bachelor of Podiatry and treat ingrown toenails regularly. We always start with a thorough assessment to determine the cause and severity, then recommend the most appropriate option — from conservative care through to minor surgery.

Conservative care may include careful removal of the ingrown spike, dressing advice, footwear guidance and instruction on correct nail-cutting technique. For many people, this resolves the problem.

Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) is recommended for recurrent, severe or infected ingrown toenails that don't respond to conservative care. During the procedure:

1. The toe is numbed with a local anaesthetic so the area is comfortable.
2. The problematic edge (or, occasionally, the whole nail) is removed.
3. A chemical called phenol is often applied to the nail matrix to help reduce the chance of that edge regrowing.
4. A dressing is applied and you'll receive clear aftercare instructions.

Most people walk out the same day and return to normal activities within a short recovery period. We'll arrange follow-up reviews to monitor healing.

When Should You Seek Help?

Book an appointment if you have persistent toe pain, signs of infection (pus, increasing redness or warmth), recurrent ingrown toenails, or if home treatments aren't working. If you have diabetes or reduced circulation, it's especially important to have any ingrown toenail assessed promptly, as even minor foot wounds can carry a higher risk of complications. We provide dedicated diabetic foot care to help manage this risk safely.

Practitioners offering this service

• Ally McIllhatton - Tuggerah Clinic
• Matt Shanahan - Tuggerah Clinic
• Remy Kozary - Tuggerah Clinic

Our clinics offering this service

• Tuggerah Clinic