Nail Surgery

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There are some nail conditions which may require surgery for treatment or diagnostic purposes.
Nail surgery

What do I expect from Nail Surgery Procedure?

Nail surgery procedures may sound traumatic, but are surprisingly generally well tolerated when proper local anesthesia is being given. Patients are usually comfortable and will not feel any pain during the surgery.

What are the common types of Nail Surgery Procedures?

Nail Matrix and Nail Bed Excision Biopsies

The nail matrix is located at the end of the finger or toe under the skin, and it contains specialised cells which produce the nail plate.

There are conditions which can occur at the nail matrix and/or the nail bed, necessitating a nail matrix or nail bed excision biopsy to help confirm the diagnosis or to treat certain tumours.

  • Dark line or band in the nail plate (Longitudinal Melanonychia), which may be due to benign pigmentation, nail matrix mole or skin cancer (melanoma)
  • Certain nail matrix tumours such as myxoid cyst
  • Other nailbed skin cancers such as squamous cell cancer
  • Inflammatory nail conditions such as nail psoriasis and nail lichen planus

Nail Avulsion

Some conditions which may require surgical nail avulsion include ingrown nail, pincer nail, thickened nail from various causes (congenital, footwear related, ageing) and total nail destruction due to fungal nail infection. The affected nailplate can be partially or completely removed.
 

Lateral Matricectomy for ingrown nail

Ingrown nails are very common and cause a lot of pain and discomfort when the edge of the nail grows into the side of the nail, resulting in inflammation and infection.

To prevent recurrence of the ingrown nail following partial nail plate avulsion, lateral matricectomy is essential. Matricectomy can be performed using CO2 laser, electrocautery or phenol application to burn off only the affected nail matrix, to prevent nail cells from regenerating at the edge and the ingrown nail recurring.
benign nail tumours

Excision Surgery For Benign Nail Tumours

Ingrown nail surgery e1764644837706

Ingrown Nail Surgery

Lateral matricectomy e1764644860764

Lateral Matricectomy

Nail matrix and nail bed biopsy e1764644989418

Nail Matrix And Nail Bed Biopsy

Pincer nail surgery

Pincer Nail Surgery

Book a Consultation & Protect Your Skin

Our team of experienced dermatologists and skin surgeons are here to help you identify, diagnose, and manage any suspicious skin changes with precision and care. Don’t ignore unusual spots or slow-healing lesions, book your appointment today for a thorough evaluation and peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Just like your wisdom teeth, buried supernumeraries might cause you issues in the future like teeth eruption problems, malalignment of
teeth or even cystic formation. It is thus best to get a consultation on whether they need to be removed.

Possible complications include bleeding, swelling, mild discomfort in your jaw, and infection. The bleeding usually stops after a couple of days and swelling will go away after a few days. Antibiotics and painkillers will be prescribed to address any pain or infection.

Every person heals differently but the average downtime can range from a few days to a week.

Preparations can vary from person to person, but in general, maintaining  good oral hygiene is key to good healing. Stop smoking for at least 2 weeks prior to the surgery. If sedation or general anesthesia is indicated, avoid eating or drinking for 6 hours before  your surgery.

Our Dermatologist

Dermatologist Dr Tay Liang Kiat

Dr Tay Liang Kiat

Dr Tay Liang Kiat is a fully accredited Dermatologist who specialises in skin cancers, Mohs micrographic surgery, dermatologic and nail surgery, aesthetic dermatology and laser procedures. With more than 25 years of clinical experience, he also manages other aspects of general ambulatory and inpatient dermatology, including eczema, psoriasis, acne, urticaria, hair loss, children skin issues and other complex medical dermatology. In addition, he has expertise in the use of the latest immunotherapy (biologics) treatment for severe eczema, psoriasis and urticaria.

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