T
The Daily Insight

What is the recovery time for toenail removal surgery

Author

Dylan Hughes

Published Apr 07, 2026

Everyone is different but on average it takes four to six weeks to heal if part of the nail is removed and 10 to 12 weeks if the whole nail is removed. During this time you will be able to walk and carry on your life as normal although you should avoid sporting activities or dancing.

How long does toenail removal hurt?

Your toe will not be painful for about 2-3 hours after the surgery. After that the anesthesia will slowly wear out and there will be minimal discomfort to the toe. It is recommended that you take over the counter Aleve or Ibuprofen if any pain.

Is toenail removal painful after?

Since the surgery is carried out under a local anaesthetic, the patients do not experience any pain during the procedure. However, when the anaesthesia wears off after the surgery, patients often experience some level of soreness around the toe that underwent surgery.

How long is recovery after toenail removal?

Most patients can return to work after 48 hours of rest, especially if they take all the advised post-surgery steps. Full healing of the surgical site can take between two to six weeks, and in some cases longer.

How long does toenail removal surgery take?

The operation usually takes about 10 minutes and may involve one or more of the following techniques. Nail avulsion – Removing your whole toenail. Wedge excision – Removing part of your toenail where it is growing into the skin, along with the area of tissue in the corner that your toenail grows from.

Can I wear shoes after toenail removal?

You should wear loose-fitting shoes or sneakers for the first 2 weeks after the procedure. Please avoid wearing high-heeled or tight-fitting shoes in the future. You should avoid running, jumping, or strenuous activity for 2 weeks after the surgery.

Can I walk after toenail removal?

So, can you walk after nail surgery? The short answer is YES! You can walk straight after nail surgery. Nail surgery is a great, curative option for an ingrowing toenail that recurs time and time again.

How do you treat a big toe after nail removal?

Wear open-toed or loose-fitting shoes for about two weeks after surgery. This gives your toe room to heal. After 24 hours, your toe can be kept clean by running warm soapy water over it and patting it dry. Keep it covered until fully healed with a nonstick dressing.

Can I wear socks after toenail removal?

Wear cotton socks. You may need to do this for about 2 weeks. You can likely resume your normal activities within a week.

Will my nail grow back after being removed?

After a nail separates from the nail bed for whatever reason, it will not reattach. A new nail will have to grow back in its place. Nails grow back slowly. It takes about 6 months for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back.

Article first time published on

What does Epsom salt do for toenail removal?

The Epsom salt soak eases discomfort and draws pus out from the area around the toenail. It can also loosen the skin, so it can be pulled away from your ingrown toenail. When your ingrown toenail is most acute, soak several times per day. Make sure you dry your foot completely after each soak.

Can I drive after toenail surgery?

Driving after ingrown toenail surgery is highly risky and should be avoided. Anesthetic isn’t going to wear out immediately after the procedure and this can hinder your driving ability. In the first couple of days, you should restrict unnecessary physical activity as much as possible.

What is permanent toenail removal?

The toe is “frozen” with local anaesthetic, the nail spicule removed and chemical introduced to the nail matrix to permanently prevent that section of nail from growing back. A total nail avulsion may be used on a toenail that is so misshaped that pain to the toe is constant.

What happens after permanent toenail removal?

Permanent removal carries risks. Sometimes a bulbous shape will form on the toe tip, Dr. Langer said, making nerves more sensitive and leaving the toe vulnerable to sores or calluses. And, in some rare cases, toenails grow back even after surgery to do away with them.

How much does it cost to have a toenail removed?

On MDsave, the cost of an Ingrown Toenail Removal (in office) ranges from $233 to $280. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can save when they buy their procedure upfront through MDsave.

How do you take care of your toe without a nail?

Coat the area with antibiotic ointment and top with a nonstick bandage. Change the bandage every day and whenever it gets wet. (If any part gets stuck, soak it under warm running water until it slips off.) For the first couple of days, ease any pain and swelling by propping up your foot.

How much pain is normal after toenail removal?

Typical recoveries have limited to no discomfort and usually alleviate ingrown nail discomfort within 24 hours. After surgery we ask patients to apply.

How does a big toenail grow back?

The way a toenail grows is out of the matrix, which is the little pocket under the skin. It constantly is creating new cells, which lengthens the nails by forcing the old ones to get pushed together and grow out. When the cells finally grow out of the matrix, they are dead.

What to do if toenail is lifting?

The easiest treatment is to have your podiatrist trim the excess nail and remove the lifted aspect. Podiatrists can also provide other medication recommendations to help treat the fungus. Less common causes of the toenail lifting are bone spurs or cancer. Bone spurs can develop from the bones located in the toe.

What happens when you have a toenail removed?

For the first few weeks after having your toenail removed, you will need to keep the wound clean and dry while it heals. You will most likely wear a bandage for about two weeks, and your mobility may be somewhat limited during this time. It may take several months for your toenail to completely grow back.

Should you use Neosporin after toenail removal?

Using a cotton swab, remove all dried drainage and dead skin within the nail groove(s). Soak for 10-15 minutes two times a day until no further drainage is noted and the skin is normal in color, apply Neosporin or a topical triple antibiotic ointment. Cover the toe with a Band-Aid when wearing shoes.

How does a doctor remove a toenail?

Surgical nail removal can be done in your doctor’s office. Your doctor will give you an injection in the finger or toe to prevent pain. Then your doctor will use a tool to loosen the skin around the nail and separate the nail from the skin. If only part of the nail is diseased, only the diseased part is removed.

How do you wrap your big toe after removing a nail?

Dry the foot completely. Put a small amount of antibiotic ointment on a piece of square silk bandage. Put the silk over your child’s toe so the antibiotic goes on the place where the toenail was removed. Put a toe sock over the toe and tape it loosely to your child’s foot.

When should you remove a toenail?

Surgical nail removal is usually performed only when a large portion of the nail is diseased and damaged or if your nails are very painful. In some cases, only the diseased portion is removed, not the entire nail.

Can you live without your toenails?

“Toenails are like our appendix,” Krebsbach says. “They do serve a purpose, but we can live without them.” You can run with toenails, and you can run without them.