Answers to the questions we hear most.

FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • No referral is required. You can email us directly to arrange a consultation. If your GP has provided a letter, please bring it — but it is not a prerequisite.

  • For the majority of procedures, no — we use local anaesthetic only, and most patients drive themselves home or take public transport.

  • Coverage varies by insurer and plan. We provide a detailed receipt for reimbursement claims. Please check with your insurer in advance.

  • Payment is taken on the day, by card or contactless. We can provide an itemised receipt for insurance reimbursement.

  • The service is delivered by a General Practitioner on the Specialist Register of the Medical Council of Ireland.

  • We are located at the Swan Medical Centre, Rathmines, Dublin 6. There is on-street parking nearby and the LUAS Green Line is a short walk.

  • Should your condition require secondary care, we will promptly refer you on to the appropriate specialist or hospital setting, ensuring you receive the right treatment.

GENERAL

  • Ingrown toenails are when the side of the toe, usually the big toe, become painful and inflamed due to the nail becoming embedded in the side of the toe.

  • The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes. If another toe is affected, it can be also treated during the same appointment, but then the procedure will take longer , usually about 45 minutes.

  • The procedure is called a partial nail avulsion and phenolisation. This means that in 95% of patients who undergo this procedure, the ingrown toenail will not recur.  Local anaesthetic is applied to the base of the toe prior to the procedure which ensures the toe is completely numb for the nail avulsion and chemical cautery. The application of the local anaesthetic can cause stinging  but only for a very short time during application.

  • You can walk as normal after the procedure, but no running/sports is advised for 1 week.

  • Clear aftercare instructions are provided and usually no follow up is needed- if any problems patients can email info@minorsurgeryclinic.ie and concerns will be addressed.

INGROWN TOENAILS

  • A lipoma is a common, slow-growing, soft benign (non-cancerous) lump of fat cells located under the skin. No treatment is necessary unless they are painful or bothersome, in which case they can be removed via surgery.

  • Skin cysts (epidermal inclusion  cysts)are benign lumps under the skin that are filled with a cheesy substance made up of broken down fat and keratin.

  • No- these cysts and lipomas are usually harmless and do not require removal. They can grow bigger with time. Sometimes cysts can become inflamed and larger and require incision and drainage.

  • The removal of a cyst or lipoma takes about 30 minutes. Local anaesthetic is applied around the cyst/lipoma , a cut is made into the skin and the cyst/lipoma is removed and sent to the lab for examination to confirm the diagnosis. The wound is sutured closed and the patient will return for removal of sutures usually 1 week later, or longer depending on location of cyst/lipoma. We do not remove facial cysts at this clinic.

  • Other benign skin lesions that can be removed at this clinic include skin tags, pyogenic granulomas, pilar cysts (scalp), and irritated or large seborrhoeic keratoses.  All excised lesions apart from small skin tags will be sent for histopathology to confirm diagnosis. Any lesions that have features concerning for malignancy or that are not appropriate for treatment in the community setting will be referred to secondary care.

  • All lesions leave a scar when they are removed. Risks of each procedure will be explained during the consent process at the consultation.

SKIN LESIONS

Schedule a Consultation

Email us with a brief description of your condition, and we'll come back to you with available appointment times — or call the clinic directly.

Prefer to talk? Call, text, or WhatsApp the clinic on +353 83 159 2571. If we can't pick up right away, we'll get back to you as soon as possible.