Nail Surgery & Vandenbos Procedure

Dunedin Skin and Surgery Clinic provides assessment and minor surgical treatment for suitable ingrown toenails and other selected nail concerns.

Ingrown toenail symptoms can occur for different reasons. In some patients, the problem is mainly due to excess or inflamed skin around the side of the nail, which can become painful, red, swollen or prone to infection. In others, the nail itself may be thickened, curved, damaged or dystrophic and may require a different treatment approach.

At our clinic, selected patients may be offered the Vandenbos procedure. This procedure is designed to remove excess soft tissue from the side of the toe while preserving the nail. It may be suitable when the main problem is overgrown or inflamed skin around an otherwise normal nail.

In some cases, part or all of the nail may need to be removed, particularly when the nail is abnormal, thickened, curved or digging into the surrounding skin. Sometimes treatment may also involve the nail matrix to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Discoloured or thickened toenails may be due to fungal infection or other nail conditions and are assessed differently. These may require medical treatment rather than surgery.

A consultation allows careful assessment of whether the problem is mainly related to the nail, the surrounding skin, infection, footwear pressure or another cause. Dr Sharma will discuss the most suitable treatment options, expected recovery, wound care and follow-up before any procedure is arranged.