✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Ingrown Toenail Removal — What It Really Looks Like (Before, During & After)

Fear keeps people from getting ingrown toenail treatment for weeks, months — sometimes until the infection becomes serious. Let’s eliminate that fear right now by showing you exactly what happens during the procedure. No surprises. No horror stories. Just the facts.

Before: What We’re Dealing With

When a patient walks in with an ingrown toenail, here’s what we typically see:

• Swollen, red, tender skin at one or both nail borders
• Possibly infected with purulent drainage (pus)
• Pain that radiates with every step — especially in closed shoes
• Sometimes: granulation tissue (a small flesh-colored bump) where skin has overgrown

The condition rarely improves on its own. Without treatment, infection spreads. With treatment, relief is immediate.

During: The 15-Minute Procedure (Step by Step)

Here’s exactly what happens during your appointment:

1. Numbing (2 minutes): A small digital nerve block numbs the toe completely. Most patients describe the injection as “a pinch for 10 seconds, then nothing.” Once numb, you feel zero pain for the rest of the procedure.
2. Nail edge removal (2 minutes): The offending portion of nail is separated from the nail groove and removed. You may feel pressure — but no pain.
3. Matrixectomy for permanent relief (2 minutes): If you want permanent correction (no regrowth of that nail edge), we apply a chemical called phenol to the nail matrix. This prevents that nail corner from ever growing back. Results: 95%+ success rate for permanent cure.
4. Bandaging and discharge: The toe is bandaged. You walk out in a regular shoe (or flip flop). Total chair time: 10–15 minutes.

After: The Recovery

Immediately after the procedure: The toe is numb for 2–4 hours. We recommend resting the foot that evening.

Days 1–3: Mild tenderness at the toe tip. Soaking in Epsom salt warm water 2x/day. Keep it bandaged and dry otherwise.

Week 1 follow-up: The toe is already healing. Redness and swelling significantly reduced. Most patients are back to full activity.

Months 1–3: If you had the permanent matrixectomy, the nail regrows narrower and no longer touches the skin border.

Temporary Relief vs. Permanent Fix

You have two options when you come in:

• Simple nail edge removal: Immediate relief. Nail may grow back and become ingrown again.
• Permanent matrixectomy: That nail edge is eliminated forever. 95%+ of patients with this procedure never have the ingrown return.

We recommend permanent correction for anyone who has had more than one ingrown on the same border, or anyone who has difficulty trimming their own nails properly.

“I waited 3 months because I was terrified. The numbering shot was the worst part, and that lasted 5 seconds. I walked out completely fine and wondered why I waited so long.” — Balance Foot & Ankle patient

Clinical Foot Care Beyond Products: Michigan’s Balance Foot & Ankle

Michigan patients using foot care products — wound care supplies, topical treatments, foot supplements, compression garments, orthotics, or stretching devices — as part of their foot health routine benefit from occasional clinical evaluation to ensure the products they are using are appropriate for their specific condition and that no developing pathology requires professional intervention. At Balance Foot & Ankle, our clinical evaluation confirms the diagnosis, assesses whether current product-based management is adequate, and identifies cases where professional treatment would produce better outcomes than continued self-management.

For Michigan patients managing chronic conditions — diabetic foot care, neuropathy management, post-surgical recovery, or persistent tendinopathy — regular podiatric check-ins at appropriate intervals ensure that small changes are caught before they become significant complications. The right interval varies by condition and risk level: high-risk diabetic patients benefit from quarterly visits; stable patients using products for minor chronic conditions may need only annual check-ins. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we help patients identify the appropriate visit frequency for their specific situation. Livingston and Oakland County patients can call (810) 206-1402 to schedule at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.

Michigan patients can access expert ingrown toenail treatment in Michigan at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our board-certified podiatrists serve Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Hills (43494 Woodward Ave #208). Schedule an appointment online or call (810) 206-1402 for same-week availability.

Related Guides

• Ingrown Toenail Treatment – Howell
• Ingrown Toenail Treatment – Bloomfield Hills
• Book an Appointment

Medical References & Sources

• American Podiatric Medical Association — Ingrown Toenails
• PubMed Research — Ingrown Toenail Treatment Outcomes

Clinical References

1. Eekhof JA, et al. Interventions for ingrowing toenails. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;4:CD001541.
2. Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee H. Management of the ingrown toenail. Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(4):303-308.
3. Bos AM, et al. Randomized clinical trial of surgical technique and local antibiotics for ingrowing toenail. Br J Surg. 2007;94(3):292-296.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.