Nail Surgery in Ireland, for Toenails and Fingernails
We are a dedicated nail surgery clinic in Dublin, and we see patients from every county in Ireland. Nails are not a sideline here, they are the whole practice. That is the difference between us and a general podiatry or chiropody clinic that offers nail surgery among twenty other things.
Procedures are carried out by Dr. Dharma, whose full name is Dr Anuruddha Dharmapriya, a doctor on the Irish Medical Council register. You sit in a treatment chair, the toe or finger is numbed with local anaesthetic, and the procedure itself takes about fifteen minutes. You walk out the same way you walked in.
What nail surgery actually means
It is a small procedure, done under local anaesthetic, to deal with a nail that has become painful, infected, deformed or impossible to manage. It is not done in an operating theatre and you are not put to sleep. In most cases only a narrow strip down one side of the nail is removed, and once it has healed you would struggle to tell anything was done.
The point of surgery, rather than yet another course of antibiotics or yet another trim, is that it can be permanent. When the nail edge that keeps causing the problem is removed and the matrix underneath it is treated, that edge does not grow back.
Swipe the diagram to see it all, or tap it to open full size.
Toenail surgery
The most common reason people come to us. Ingrown toenails, nails thickened to the point where cutting them is a two person job, nails damaged by years of running or football boots, and fungal nails. We offer partial nail avulsion, total nail avulsion, conservative nail care for a first episode, and laser therapy for fungal nails.
Fingernail surgery
Less talked about, and much harder to live with. You can put a sore toe in a wide shoe and get on with your day. You cannot stop using your hands. Ingrown fingernails, chronic infection in the nail fold, and nails that grew back split or ridged after an old injury are all treatable, and we treat them.
How an appointment works
We book one hour. That sounds like a lot for a fifteen minute procedure, and it is deliberate. The time is there so nobody is rushed: we look at the nail properly, talk through what is actually going on, agree what to do, do it, and then go through the aftercare with you before you leave.
You do not need a GP referral. You can book directly.
Coming to us from outside Dublin
A large share of our patients travel, because there are very few clinics in Ireland doing only this. We are at 65 Collins Avenue West in Donnycarney, Dublin 9, on the north side, with parking at the door and a straightforward run in from the M1 and M50.
Most people are treated on the same visit rather than being asked to come back a second time, which matters when you have driven from Galway or Cork.
Common questions
Does it hurt?
The anaesthetic injection stings for a few seconds. After that you feel pressure and movement, but not pain. Most people are surprised by how uneventful it is. Afterwards, ordinary painkillers are usually enough.
Will the nail grow back?
That depends on which procedure you have. If the nail matrix is treated during the procedure, the treated portion is designed not to regrow, which is what makes the result permanent. If it is not treated, the nail regrows and the original problem can return. We will tell you which one you are having and why.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. You can book an appointment directly with the clinic.
How soon can I go back to work?
Most people go back the next day, and many go back the same day. If your job means standing all day in safety boots, or getting your hands wet or dirty, tell us and we will give you a realistic answer for your situation.
Will my private health insurance cover nail surgery?
This depends on your individual insurance policy. For toenail surgery, if you have extras containing podiatry cover, it is likely a portion of the fee will be covered. For fingernail surgery, the relevant benefit is more often cover for minor surgical procedures rather than podiatry, so it is worth checking that section of your policy.
What does it cost?
We give you the full price at the consultation, before anything is done, and it does not change afterwards. It is one all-inclusive fee covering the consultation, the local anaesthetic, the procedure, dressings and your aftercare. There is no separate consultation charge and nothing is added on later.