Frequently asked questions
Who are you?
Olive Foot Clinic provide online and face to face podiatrist consultations at a reasonable cost. We can help you solve your ingrown toenail problem.
Are your podiatrist trained and qualified?
All our podiatrists are NHS trained, fully qualified and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered.
How do I book an online consultation?
Booking a consultation is easy. Contact us on WhattsApp and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Usually within 24 hours. You will be asked for some contact info and some details such symptoms, medical history, regular medication etc. The consultation will take place on WhattsApp, so it is essential you have this app.
Are my records kept secure?
Protecting security is very important to us, that is why we use WhattsApp. “WhattsApp protects the personal calls and messages of users with default end-to-end encryption, so no one but the intended recipient can hear or see them.” Your records will be held securely and all staff are trained in how to keep your records secure.
How much does an online consultation cost?
Our online consultations are free of charge.
Do you have evening and weekend clinic appointments?
Yes we do. Just select a time that suits you and book a consultation.
How much does a clinic appointment cost?
Our clinic face to face appointments cost £40 for conservative treatment and £250 (per toe) for nail surgery.
How do I book a clinic appointment ?
Clinic appointments can be booked through the website. A £20 deposit is needed in order to secure your chosen time and day. This amount will be deducted from the cost of consultation/treatment.
Can I change my appointment?
As long as you contact us 24 hours before you appointment we will change your appointment free of charge. If you fail to attend your appointment or do not cancel your appointment 24 hours before your time we cannot issue a refund.
Can you treat children?
Yes, any child under 16 will need to have someone with parental responsibility present during the consultation.
Can I cancel?
Yes you can but it has to be 24 before your appointment time so that the appointment can be offered to someone else. Just contact us at contact@olivefootclinic.co.uk and we will refund you to your original payment method within 28 days.
What do I need to for an online consultation?
Smart phone with camera, WhattsApp, internet connection.
Which payment options do you offer?
We offer over a dozen payment options to ensure you can pay via a method that suits your needs. All payments are processed securely by a third-party payment provider, and are protected by encryption.
What is a podiatrist?
Podiatrist are foot health specialist, they are professionally trained and qualified. They have knowledge skills and experience of ingrown toenails. They have to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to work in the UK. You can check they are registered at https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/
What is nail surgery?
Partial nail removal and total nail removal are minor surgical procedures performed by a Podiatrist to cure painful ingrown toenails.
Partial nail removal (avulsion) - This is the treatment of choice when one or both sides of the nail are ingrown. This method leaves most of the nail in place, only removing the “offending” portion of the nail.
Total nail removal (avulsion) - This is the complete removal of the toenail where the nail is extremely curved thickened or damaged. This method results in permanent loss of the whole nail.
Both procedures are performed under local anaesthetic, which is injected into the toe.
What are the Benefits?
The benefits of having the procedure include:
Permanent Cure
Relief from the painful condition
Allowing the tissues to fully heal
Preventing infection from coming back
Preventing the need for a general anaesthetic and risks associated with this
No long waiting times.
Minimal time off school/work
Partial removal of the nail will be cosmetically more acceptable
Are there any risks involved?
As with all surgical procedures there are some risks involved. These are rare, but may include:
Re-growth of the nail that has been removed
Nerve/Blood vessel damage
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Delayed or Non-Healing of the wound
Phenol chemical burn to healthy tissues
Temporary loss or deformity of the remaining nail plate
Bruising
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Infection
Pain
Bleeding
Allergic reaction including anaphylaxis
Need for repeat procedure
At your assessment appointment it is important to tell your podiatrist if you have epilepsy, if you take an anti-coagulant medication that requires regular blood tests by the anti-coagulation team ( for example Warfarin).
How do I prepare for nail surgery appointment?
On the day of your appointment:
Please ensure that any nails that are having the minor surgical
procedure are completely clear of any nail varnish or synthetic
material, including acrylic, gel or shellac nails
Avoid alcohol consumption 24 hours before the procedure
Bring a loose slipper or open toe sandal
Bring any inhalers, sprays or medication that you may need
with you
If you are under 16, a parent or guardian must attend with you
If you are over 16 you may attend with a relative/friend for
support if required
Please feel free to bring anything that may be a welcome
distraction for example any personal music, books, magazines,
electronic tablet devices etc
There is no need to fast before your appointment, please eat
and drink as normal
Arrange for a car or taxi to take you home, as due to the local
anaesthetic your insurance to drive will not be valid until your
toe returns to normal sensation
Make sure you plan for a few hours of rest after the treatment
You must inform the Podiatrist upon arrival if you have been
given any anaesthetic in the last 24 hours
It is unlikely that you will need to alter your medication prior to
surgery, therefore do not stop your tablets etc. unless you have
been advised to do so
What happens when you attend for Nail Surgery?
The appointment itself will take around an hour
At the start, the procedure will be discussed with you and we
will check you are happy to go ahead. There will be opportunity
to ask any questions
We will always discuss the procedure and make sure this is still
appropriate based on the presentation of the nail on the day. In
some cases we may discuss having the whole nail removed rather
than just part of it and vice versa. We may decide that the
procedure is not required for example if the problem has
resolved since the assessment
We will ask if there has been any change to your medication
and health
We will confirm your written and verbal consent to proceed
We will lie you back in the treatment chair (unless you wish not
to) and provide a pillow for comfort
Local anaesthetic will be injected into either side of your toe to
make it go numb. (As with any injection this part of the
treatment can be uncomfortable, but it does not take long. Once
the anaesthetic is working the procedure is pain free. We will not
start the treatment until you are happy that the area is numb).
We will perform some checks to make sure the toe is
completely numb before starting the procedure
When the toe is completely numb a rubber band called a
tourniquet is applied to the toe to stop it from bleeding while
the procedure is performed.
The agreed section of the nail will be removed
A chemical called phenol will be applied to the nail bed and
root to prevent the nail from growing back
The chemical is removed after a total for 4 minutes
The rubber band will then be removed
Finally, a dressing will be applied to your toe
Your dressing will be checked for any excessive bleeding before
you leave. If there are any signs of excessive bleeding we may
apply a dressing over the current dressing
You will be provided with an aftercare sheet and some advice
on how to look after the wound while it is healing.
We will book you a follow up appointment however this isn’t always needed. A further online consultation will be done to check the healing process.
What can I do and what to avoid after the the Nail Surgery procedure?
Driving. Your vehicle insurance is invalid if you have had an
anaesthetic in your toe, so please arrange accompanied transport
home. Do not go home on the bus, on a bike/ motorbike, or walk
home. This is so that you do not put pressure on your toe or have
your foot resting down. This also helps to avoid excessive
bleeding and pain after your surgery and reduces the risk of
injury to the toe
Walking. You will be able to walk after the procedure but your
toe will feel numb until the anaesthetic wears off, which
normally takes 1.5 - 2 hours. We recommend that you rest with
your leg elevated for the rest of the day after the procedure
Bleeding. There is generally very little bleeding afterwards, but
sometimes more bleeding can occur with more severe cases of ingrowing toe nails. If this does occur, the podiatrist will use a
dressing to stop any more bleeding. If you do experience heavy
bleeding contact us as soon as possible. You can also contact your GP or attend A&E if necessary. We recommend that you rest at
home with the limb elevated for the remainder of the day
following the procedure to minimise the risk of heavy bleeding.
The dressing will be checked before you leave clinic to ensure any
bleeding has stopped. Dressings should be kept in place, clean
and dry until the first re dressing appointment. Further
instructions will be given at your follow up appointment.
Pain/Discomfort. The anaesthetic usually wears off after 1.5 - 2
hours. It is unusual for the toe to be very uncomfortable
although there have been cases of severe discomfort. If you do
experience any discomfort you can take a painkiller but avoid
anything with Aspirin in it, as this can make the wound bleed
Alcohol. Alcohol increases bleeding and can make the surgery
site bleed more and be more painful. We recommend avoiding
alcohol for 24 hours after the procedure
Healing time. Healing times depend on the type of surgery that
is being performed, and if the chemical (phenol) is being applied.
If only a piece of the nail is removed (partial nail avulsion),
healing will take place in an average of around 4-12 weeks. If the
whole nail plate is removed (total nail avulsion), it usually takes
longer as there is more skin to heal up - occurring in around 8-12
weeks. Please note that not every person is the same - for some patients t may be a shorter or even longer time for the toe to heal.
Healing can be affected by many things, including the person’s
health, medication, occupation and footwear.
The post operative wound might bleed and weep while it is
healing which is normal.
How long does it take?
The appointment will last around one hour. This includes time for All the paperwork to be completed, for the anaesthetic to work and for you to relax. The procedure itself will only take 5 to 10 minutes.
Will I be able to see what you are doing?
We usually lie you flat while we carry out the procedure however if you prefer not to please let the Podiatrist know at the start of the appointment.
Will I be able to get my shoes on afterwards?
This is not usually a problem; however it may help to bring slippers or more accommodating footwear along with you.
Will I be able to walk afterwards?
Yes you will be able to walk normally after the procedure; although we do advise that you make arrangements to get home by car or taxi, and that you rest with your leg up for the rest of the day.
Will the nail grow back again?
The nail should not grow back if the procedure has been completed with the chemical application. In most cases there will be no re-growth however there is a small risk that some nail may grow back. If the nail grows back and causes problems within 3 months of the initial procedure, we will repeat the procedure free of charge.
When can I return to work/school/normal activities?
You will normally be able to return to work/school the next day. These procedures do not normally require any further time off. Some people find a 24 hour rest helpful. High impact physical activity/swimming should be avoided until the wound is healed.
What footwear can I wear while the toe is healing?
It is important to wear shoes that have enough depth and width at the front. It is fine to wear a closed toe shoe providing that there is enough room to accommodate the dressing and prevent any increased pressure on the wound that is healing. It is not advised to wear high heeled shoes or formal shoes that have a shallow or narrow toe box.
How long will it take to heal?
Partial nail avulsions take on average 4-12 weeks to heal completely. Total nail avulsions take approximately 8-12 weeks, however some will heal quicker and some take slightly longer.
How long do I need to keep changing the dressings for?
It is important to keep dressing the area as per the dressing information we will provide until it is completely healed. You can stop applying a daily dressing when there is no longer any fluid on the dressing that you remove for 3 consecutive dressing changes
How will I know if my toe is infected?
After nail surgery, it is normal for your toe to ooze a yellowish fluid. If your toe shows the following symptoms it may be infected: Increased redness, swollen, painful, increase in discharge. If you are concerned that your toe is infected it is important that you contact your GP as you may require a course of antibiotics.