Service
Ingrown toenail
An ingrown toenail is a condition in which the edge of the nail grows into the skin beside the nail. The skin at that spot becomes inflamed and hurts to the touch and when walking, and in some people the condition keeps coming back.
Ingrown toenail and corn
A painful nail on the big toe, a thickening on the sole, or a wart on the foot. The edge of the nail grows into the soft tissue beside the nail and injures it; the tissue swells, reddens and hurts on pressure, and if bacteria get in, an inflammation with pus develops. Common causes are shoes that are too narrow, cutting the nail too short or rounded, injury and increased sweating of the feet. A corn and a wart on the foot look similar, but they are not treated in the same way.
Why does it come back after a pedicure?
A pedicure removes the edge of the nail that has grown in, but it does not change what made it grow in — the width of the nail, the shape of the nail bed, the pressure of the shoes, the way the nail is cut. The nail grows back into the same flesh, so the inflammation returns. Removing the whole nail does not help any better: the new nail grows the same way. A lasting solution removes the narrow edge of the nail together with the part of the root it grows from, so the nail stays narrower and no longer cuts in.
When should you see a doctor?
When the inflammation keeps coming back despite pedicures and correct cutting, when the edge of the nail is red, swollen and discharging pus or “proud flesh” (overgrown granulation tissue) has formed, when the pain interferes with walking and wearing shoes — and straight away if you have diabetes or poor circulation, because inflammation of a toe then worsens quickly.
How is it treated?
The part of the nail that grows into the skin is removed, and in some people also the part of the nail bed from which that edge grows.
- Partial ablation — part of the nail is removed.
- Total ablation — the whole nail is removed.
In children
An ingrown toenail is common in adolescents — the nail grows fast, shoes are tight, and cutting is often too short and rounded. In children, the cutting (straight, not too short) and the shoes are changed first; if the inflammation returns, the procedure is done in the same way as in adults, under local anaesthesia, with a parent present. In infants, an ingrown toenail most often passes by itself with growth.
When is the procedure not suitable?
An acutely inflamed, pus-filled nail edge is first opened and settled; the lasting procedure on the nail root is done when there is no inflammation, or in the same procedure if the inflammation is minor. With diabetes and poor circulation in the legs, the procedure is planned more carefully, and you should get in touch at the first sign of inflammation.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Recovery
After the procedure, the toe is dressed until the wound has healed. In the first days, tight shoes are avoided.
Risks
Expected — pain in the first days, swelling beside the nail, dressing changes until the wound has healed. Occasional — inflammation of the wound, the edge of the nail growing in again.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Partial nail ablation | €150–200 |
| Total nail ablation | €200–250 |
Dressing changes for our own patients are included in the price.
Specialist and team
Specialty: general surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
Will the nail grow back? Yes. Only the ingrown edge is removed, on average two to three millimetres, and the rest of the nail stays and keeps growing, a little narrower than before.
Can I walk after the procedure? Yes, straight away, in open or wide shoes. For the first two to three days the toe is kept raised when you sit. Closed shoes on average after a week.
What exactly is done? The narrow edge of the nail that has grown in is removed, together with part of the root it grows from — chemically or surgically — so the new nail grows narrower and no longer cuts in. The rest of the nail stays; the appearance hardly changes.
How should I cut the nail correctly? Straight, not too short and not rounded at the corners — the corner of the nail should stay above the skin. Tight shoes and sweaty feet make it worse.
Can an ingrown toenail come back after the procedure? When part of the root is also removed, rarely on that edge. Ingrowing can appear on the other edge of the same nail or on another toe, especially if shoes and the way of cutting do not change.
What helps until the examination, and what does not? A warm salt-water soak twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes eases the pain and softens the skin beside the nail. After the soak, a small piece of clean cotton wool or thread can be gently tucked under the edge of the nail to lift it off the skin. Keep shoes wide at the toes. Do not cut the edge of the nail deep into the corner and do not try to remove the ingrown part yourself — any such attempt leaves a sharper edge that grows in harder, and a wound beside the nail is easily infected.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.