Corn Surgery
Surgical Solutions for Corns
When a persistent bony prominence or toe deformity keeps driving pressure, surgery can offer a longer-term solution. Procedures are typically day-case under local anaesthetic. We consider surgery for recurrent, painful corns that persist despite footwear modification, orthoses and Routine Podiatry Appointments, or when a fixed deformity (for example a hammer/claw toe, a long second toe or bunion crowding) is identified.
Where a toe deformity needs correction, please see our Hammer Toe & Toe Deformity page for full details.
Surgery involves precise removal of the corn and, where indicated, correction of the underlying bony driver (realignment, straightening or subtle shortening of a toe). Neurovascular corns may be managed with targeted cryotherapy or radiofrequency, and in selected cases complete excision with plastic-surgical closure to support smooth healing. For plantar corns, we first exclude verrucae; care may include radiofrequency or cryotherapy and, where required, minimally invasive correction to reduce focal pressure.
Most patients walk out in a protective shoe. We provide clear aftercare, offloading and dressing advice, and use low-reactivity sutures with refined technique to minimise scarring and pigmentation change—especially important for darker skin tones. Our aim is lasting relief by addressing the cause.
To find out if surgery is appropriate for you, book an initial podiatry assessment, or send a photo via email if you’re unsure.
Routine Care or Permanent Fix — Your Choice
At The London Podiatry Centre, every patient is different.
Whether you’re best served by ongoing care—regular Routine Podiatry Appointments for gentle debridement—targeted advice on footwear and pressure offloading, or a permanent surgical solution that corrects the underlying cause, we’ll tailor a plan to your goals and lifestyle. Your clinician will agree a clear pathway at your initial assessment and guide you from preparation through recovery, aiming for long-lasting comfort and healthier feet.
Toe Corns and Female Foot Health
Toe corns are especially common in women—around 80% of our surgical corn patients are female. This is often linked to footwear compression and certain foot structures, such as a long second toe, flat feet with clawing, or bunion-related crowding. When surgery is indicated, we not only remove the corn but also address the underlying deformity to reduce recurrence—this may involve realigning, straightening or subtly shortening the toe. (For fuller details on deformity correction, see our Hammer Toe & Toe Deformity Treatments page.)
Some corns are more complex. Neurovascular corns contain extra tiny blood vessels and nerves, which can make them exquisitely tender. Plantar corns on the sole can be mistaken for viral warts (verrucae) and require careful assessment. Depending on the findings, options may include:
- Targeted cryotherapy or radiofrequency techniques
- Complete excision with meticulous, plastic-surgical closure to support smooth healing
- Minimally invasive correction to reduce the focal pressure driving the corn
We are experienced in caring for all skin types and use low-reactivity sutures and refined techniques to minimise scarring and pigmentation change—an important consideration for darker skin tones. See a before-and-after image below:
What to Expect from Surgical Treatment
- Performed under local anaesthetic
- Day-case procedure — you go home the same day
- Procedure time: typically up to 2 hours (varies by case)
- Mobility: you’ll usually walk out in a protective post-operative shoe
- Stitches: usually removed at 2–3 weeks
- Comfort: initial soreness is generally well controlled — we use a long-acting local anaesthetic during surgery and provide guidance on simple pain relief
Forefoot Reconstruction for Complex Corn Cases
In some patients, corns are just one symptom of a more complex forefoot deformity.
In such cases, procedures such as bunion correction or multi-toe realignment may be required for optimal results. These surgeries can often be performed under local anaesthetic but may involve a longer recovery period.
Types of Corns and Related Treatments
A list of specialised treatments that the clinic offers for corn related diagnosis.
Corns form on the top of toes as a result of shoe pressure. Tight fitting shoes are a common cause and the condition is far more common in women. At our Centre approximately 80% of the patients that we operate on for corn surgery are woman.
Some patients appear far more prone to corns and this can often be explained by their foot structure. At risk foot types include, a long 2nd toe, toe clawing due to flat feet and compression on the small toes from a bunion. A bunion occurs when the great to is no longer straight and drifts towards the lesser toe. A trouble bony prominence generally forms, which is often irritated by foowear.
When surgically correcting the position of toes it is often necessary to re-align them so as to minimise the risk of recurrence. Typically, when the corn is removed, surgery is also undertaken to straighten and or shorten the toe so that the tension is reduced and the position is optimised.
Interdigital (“soft”) corns form between the toes—usually the fourth and fifth—where pressure and friction trap moisture, leaving the skin white, rubbery and sore. We confirm the diagnosis and rule out look-alike conditions, then tailor care that may include gentle removal, interdigital padding or silicone spacers, footwear and moisture-control advice, and, when a persistent bony pressure point is present, custom orthoses or day-case surgery using refined, low-reactivity techniques. Prevention focuses on keeping the area dry, reducing friction and choosing roomier shoes. Please avoid self-treatment and acid corn plasters, especially if you have diabetes or circulation problems; book an assessment to get back into comfortable footwear.
These are very painful corns that are infiltrated by blood vessels and nerves. Our Centre offers various advanced techniques to resolve neurovascular corns. Sometimes they are treated by means of invasive cryosurgery. (maybe have a picture here) Cryosurgery effectively breaks down the nerves surrounding the corn. Sometimes the corn is fully excised and the skin closed using advanced plastic surgery techniques.
Corns that form on the bottom of the foot can be painful whether neurovascular or not. In some cases there may be a viral cause as certain types of human papilloma wart can look very similar to corns. As well as various forms of surgery the Centre will also consider cryotherapy, cryosurgery and radiofrequency to treat these lesions.
Our Centre has built a strong reputation for managing corns in people with darker skin tones, and we welcome patients from across the UK. As well as discomfort, many people feel self-conscious about how corns look—especially in warmer months when they prefer open footwear. In lighter skin tones, corns may appear slightly darker than the surrounding skin; in darker skin tones, they can look lighter, which may make them more noticeable.
Surgical management in these cases needs particular care because some individuals are more prone to post-inflammatory pigment changes and visible scarring. Our team uses refined techniques—such as low-reactivity sutures and plastic-surgical approaches—to help optimise healing and aesthetic outcomes.
Sometimes corns are the result of complex forefoot deformity whereby various operations are required to properly address the problem. For example some patients maybe predominantly concerned about their corns on their toes but the presence of a bunion means that this also requires correction so that the small toes to sit properly after the operation.
In most cases, complex forefoot reconstruction can be done under local anaesthetic although the recovery will be longer.
