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Ingrown toenail is a common but painful feet problem. It always happens on the big toe. People always do not pay enough attention to it and hoping it would go away by itself. While for most cases, it won't heal by itself; and when left untreated, it would become more and more serious. Click here to check the three stage of ingrown toenail.

This is a full record of a nail recovery process after ingrown toenail's full nail removal surgery.

This is the photos before the nail removal. This Ingrown toenail has reached the later Second stage,  a lot of pus build up around the nail edge, and granulation tissue is about to grow.

This is the photo of the big toe after the nail removal. Though it is a side picture, You can see the swollen part has relieved a lot after the pus getting out.

This is a picture of the nail that was taken off, and we can see the causes of this ingrown toenail. That when cutting the nail, it did not cut the nail straight across to the nail end, so that it left a nail spike inside. When the nail keeps growing, this nail spike pierced the soft tissue.

The bandage after the surgery. The numb continued for another 1 hour after the surgery, then would start to feel the pain. While the pain is still acceptable. During the whole growing process, the most painful moment is the time when you change the dressing for the first time (2 days after the surgery). As the nail bed is is like an open wound, so the bandage is attached to the nail bed. When the nurse try to get the bandage out, it felt like peeling off the skin. ( The second dressing changing process would be better)

7 days after the surgery. The nail bed formed a thin layer of soft tissue.

20 days after the surgery, The soft tissue on the nail bed becomes harder. Can take shower now. It is very crucial at this time to avoid getting nail fungus.

30 days after the surgery, The nail starts to grow out of the nail fold. The big toe also has little deformed as there did not have a nail plate to restrict the nail bed.

40 days after the surgery, The toe deformed more, and the newly grown nail becomes obvious, around 2mm long.

2 months after the surgery, The toe deformed more.

3 months after the surgery. The nail has reach half of the nail bed.

4 months after the surgery, the toenail almost has reached the normal length. The toe's shape becomes normal as the nail growing back.

It takes 6 months for the nail to grow back after the surgery. During the recovering process, the toe becomes deformed without the support of the nail. While the toe also returned to normal shape after the nail grow back.

Summary of the nail removal surgery

1. Changing the first time dressing is the most painful moment
2. It is normal that the toe becomes deformed before the nail grows out
3. It tasks around 6 months for the nail to grow back
4. Be serious about ingrown toenails, and get treated earlier