Can a podiatrist remove a toenail?

Updated July 19, 2025

What does a podiatrist do?

A podiatrist’s role is in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the feet and ankles. Podiatrists are well-equipped to address toenail problems, including those that may require toenail removal.

When should you see a podiatrist about your toenails?

A podiatrist can help you if you have:

• Persistent toenail pain
• Discoloured or deformed toenails
• Recurrent ingrown toenails or infections
• Fungal nail infections that haven’t responded to treatment.

Why you might need a toenail removal

Healthy toenails are important for the general health of your feet. But sometimes they become problematic due to ingrowing, damage, fungus, or infection.

If a toenail is causing a reoccurring problem, the best solution may be to have the toenail removed to allow your foot to heal properly.

Here are some of the common reasons why you might need a toenail removed.

Ingrown toenail surgery

Ingrown toenails are one of the most common reasons for toenail removal.

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness and swelling. Sometimes there may also be discharge or bleeding around the nail.

If early treatment fails to ease these symptoms, a podiatrist may recommend removing the ingrown toenail or part of it. This way, the nail can grow back correctly and prevent future issues.

Chronic pain or swelling of the toe

If you suffer from pain or swelling in your toe that does not improve with initial treatment, a toenail removal may be recommended.

Removing the toenail will help relieve any pain and allow the surrounding tissue in the nail bed to heal. In some cases, a podiatrist may only need to remove a small part of the nail to target the root cause of the pain.

Toenail removal for fungus

are common. Mild infections can usually be treated with over-the-counter anti-fungal medicine that you brush directly onto the nail. More severe infections may need anti-fungal tablets, prescribed by your GP.

Both of these treatments can take several months.

If the fungal nail infection is severe and other treatments don’t cure it, a toenail removal may be recommended instead.

Toenail damage or trauma

Toenail damage or trauma might occur after an injury or repeated pressure. For example, if you’ve dropped something on your toe or have been wearing ill-fitting shoes.

If the toenail is severely bruised or broken — or if there’s a risk of developing an infection — it may be best to remove part, or all, of the affected toenail.

Toenail infections

A toenail may become infected as a result of trauma, damage, or poor foot hygiene.

In cases where the infection doesn’t respond to treatments, like antibiotics, a podiatrist might suggest removing the nail. This will allow for proper healing and reduce the risk of further complications.

What is toenail removal surgery?

Toenail removal surgery, is a procedure where all or part of your toenail is removed to ease pain or to prevent a recurring issue.

A  can carry out three main types of nail surgery.

1. Partial toenail removal

A partial toenail removal involves removing a small portion of the toenail from one side of the toe. It’s usually recommended when the toenail is ingrowing on one side.

2. Bilateral partial toenail removal

A bilateral partial toenail removal involves removing a small piece from each side of the toenail. This procedure is needed when the toenail is ingrowing on both sides.

With both of these procedures, the parts of the nail that have been removed are chemically treated, so they don’t grow back and cause further issues.

3. Complete toenail removal

A complete toenail removal is where the entire toenail is removed. This treatment may be necessary if the toenail is causing significant problems or pain.

Will a fully removed toenail grow back?

Toenails never stop growing. Whether they regrow after a surgery will depend on your condition and the procedure you have.

If your nail will grow back healthy and without causing you further problems, it can be left to regrow. Full regrowth can take up to 18 months.

If the nail will continue to be problematic, your podiatrist can treat the nail bed to stop regrowth. In this case, the removal will be permanent and you won’t have a toenail.

Is there an alternative to toenail removal surgery?

Toenail removal is usually a last resort, when non-surgical treatment isn’t an option.

To recommend the best treatment, your podiatrist will conduct a thorough examination of your foot and discuss your symptoms. They will want to know more about how the issue developed and if you have any other nail conditions.

Your podiatrist will assess whether your toe can be treated non-surgically. If it can be, they may trim part of the nail. But if that’s not possible, or you have a recurring issue, a minor surgical procedure may be required.

How to prepare for your toenail surgery

Start by removing any nail varnish, artificial nails or foot jewellery.

Bring any medications, such as asthma inhalers or angina sprays, that you might need during your appointment.

You won’t be able to drive after the anaesthetic, so arrange for someone else to drive you to and from the appointment.

Bring wide, loose-fitting shoes, such as adjustable sandals or slippers, to wear after the surgery, when your toe has been dressed.

What happens during toenail removal surgery?

First, your podiatrist will inject a local anaesthetic at the base of your toe. This will numb the area, so you’ll feel minimal discomfort during the procedure.

Once the area is adequately numbed, they’ll carefully loosen and remove the problematic toenail, or portion of the toenail.

After removing your toenail, your podiatrist will clean the area and apply an antiseptic solution to prevent infection. They’ll then apply a dressing to protect your toe while it heals.

Your podiatrist will provide you with aftercare instructions, showing you how to keep the area clean and dry. They’ll tell you about the signs of infection to watch for and give you recommendations for managing the pain.

A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to check on your recovery and allow your podiatrist to re-dress your toe.

A toenail removal usually takes under an hour (per toe).

You should be able to go home shortly after the surgery, although you will need someone to drive you home due to the local anaesthetic used.

What’s the typical toenail removal recovery time?

Generally, recovery can take between 4-6 weeks if part of the nail is removed, or 10-12 weeks if the whole nail is removed.

But everyone’s nail condition is different. Your recovery time will likely depend on the specific reason for the toenail removal and how well you follow the post-operative care instructions.

What’s the best advice for toenail removal recovery?

It’s essential to follow your podiatrist’s aftercare advice closely. This will include keeping the foot dry, reapplying dressings as instructed, and monitoring for any signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge. Anti-inflammatories may be recommended to help manage any discomfort or pain you may feel.

In most cases, you’ll be able to return to normal activities a few days after the removal, though you should avoid any activities that could put stress on the toe until it has fully healed.

You’ll still be able to walk and move around as normal, but sports and high-impact activities should be avoided during your initial recovery to prevent complications.

Are there any risks when removing a toenail?

Toenail removal is a very safe procedure, but there’s an element of risk with any surgery.

In this case, that may include:

• Regrowth in the part of the nail that was removed
• Longer healing times
• Infection in the wound where the nail was removed
• An allergic reaction to the local anaesthetic (rare)
• Misshaping of the remaining nail.

If you have issues after the surgery or notice anything unusual, you should contact your podiatrist for advice.

How to book a toenail removal at Hatt Clinic

Every podiatrist appointment starts with an initial consultation. This allows Hatt’s team of experienced podiatrists to assess your condition and determine if surgery is necessary.

During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss your symptoms and any concerns you might have regarding the procedure. Our podiatrists will then perform a thorough examination of your foot and discuss the potential treatment options available.

If surgery is deemed necessary, they will explain the procedure in detail, including what you can expect before, during, and after the surgery.

You can book your initial podiatry consultation at one of our clinics in Devizes, Marlborough or Frome.

Appointments are available to book online and there are no waiting lists, so you’ll get the treatment you need as soon as you need it.

To book your initial podiatry consultation, please call our Patient Services team on 01380 730473, or book online.

Book today and get £20 off your first appointment.