Minor Surgery Winnipeg — Procedures We Provide
In-office minor surgery at Concordia Medical Centre is performed by Dr. Alaa Aboulodha and Dr. Opeyemi Opaleye, with support from a Clinical Assistant, covering a range of procedures from ingrown toenail removal to skin excisions. IUD insertion is performed separately by Dr. Grazyna Lipinski.
Procedures are scheduled after an initial assessment, rather than booked directly online, so the physician can confirm the procedure is appropriate and explain what a specific appointment will involve. See Our Physicians for individual profiles.
Ingrown Toenail Removal
An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of a nail — most often on the big toe — grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling and sometimes infection. Concordia Medical Centre treats ingrown toenails ranging from a single problem episode through to nails that keep coming back.
Treatment depends on severity. A mild, first-time ingrown toenail may be manageable with simple in-office removal of the offending nail edge under local anaesthetic. A toenail that has become infected, or one that keeps recurring despite previous treatment, is more often addressed with a permanent procedure that removes the problem nail edge along with its growth centre so it cannot regrow in the same place.
The Vandenbos Procedure
The Vandenbos procedure is a technique for treating recurring or severe ingrown toenails. Rather than removing part of the nail plate and destroying the nail bed with a chemical (the more traditional partial nail avulsion approach), the Vandenbos procedure removes the excess soft tissue folded around the edge of the nail, leaving the nail plate and nail bed intact. The wound is then left to heal naturally rather than being closed with stitches.
Both the Vandenbos procedure and partial nail avulsion with chemical matrixectomy are offered at Concordia Medical Centre; the physician recommends whichever technique best fits the specific case. The trade-off between the two is a different healing process — the Vandenbos procedure's open wound takes longer to close than a stitched or chemically treated nail bed, discussed further under Recovery & Aftercare below.
Is It Covered by Manitoba Health?
Ingrown toenail removal is covered by Manitoba Health.
Recovery & Aftercare
Aftercare typically involves keeping the toe clean and dry, wearing open or wide-toed footwear for a period after the procedure, and returning for follow-up visits with dressing changes. Healing typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. Discomfort is common in the first few days and generally eases with basic pain relief.
Skin Excisions & Biopsies
A skin excision removes a lesion — such as a suspicious mole or a growth that needs a closer look — along with a margin of surrounding tissue, which is then sent to pathology for analysis. A biopsy takes a smaller sample of tissue for diagnosis without necessarily removing the entire lesion, depending on what the assessment calls for.
Excisions and biopsies are sent to the lab the same day or the next day. Patients considering an excision or biopsy for a mole or skin lesion should first have it assessed — see Mole Assessment & Removal on the Skin Clinic page for that first step.
Cyst & Lipoma Removal
Sebaceous and epidermoid cysts are common, generally benign, fluid- or keratin-filled lumps that sit just under the skin. Lipomas are soft, slow-growing fatty lumps that sit slightly deeper. Both can be removed in-office when appropriate, usually under local anaesthetic, with the removed tissue sometimes sent for pathology depending on its appearance.
Cysts or lipomas larger than 10 cm are referred out rather than removed in-office. An assessment appointment is the first step to determine whether in-office removal is appropriate for a specific lump.
Abscess Drainage
An abscess is a painful, swollen pocket of infection that has collected under the skin, and typically needs to be drained rather than treated with antibiotics alone. Incision and drainage releases the collected fluid and relieves pressure, often followed by wound packing and a follow-up visit to check healing.
Abscess drainage is normally handled the same day. A painful, worsening or feverish abscess is a reason to be seen promptly rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment — see the walk-in clinic for same-day options.
Wound Repair & Sutures
Wound repair covers cleaning and closing a laceration, suturing (stitches), and suture removal once healing is underway. A physician assesses depth, location and how the wound occurred to decide the best method of closure, and to check whether a tetanus booster or other precaution is needed.
Need this today? Urgent cuts and wounds are handled through the walk-in clinic rather than a scheduled minor surgery appointment — see Cuts, Wounds & Stitches on the Walk-In Clinic page.
This page's scope covers wound-related care arranged as part of a scheduled minor surgery visit, such as suture removal following a procedure performed here.
Joint & Cortisone Injections
Cortisone injections deliver an anti-inflammatory medication directly into or around a joint or soft-tissue area to reduce pain and swelling, performed at the knee, shoulder, elbow and small phalangeal (finger) joints.
A cortisone injection is a brief in-office procedure; some soreness at the injection site for a day or two afterward is common, with relief typically building over the following days. For joint or tendon pain where a patient prefers a non-cortisone option, PRP Injections are available as an alternative approach — see the Advanced Treatments page for details.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy benign skin lesions such as warts, at the surface of the skin. Treated spots typically blister and shed over the following days to weeks as new skin forms underneath. More than one session is often needed to fully clear a stubborn wart.
For wart assessment and the broader skin lesion offering, see Warts & Cryotherapy on the Skin Clinic page.
IUD Insertion & Removal
Both hormonal and copper IUDs are available as in-office procedures. An appointment is required. An appointment is required. A short cramping sensation during insertion is common and generally settles within a day or so; the physician will walk through what to expect for the specific IUD type being placed.
Patients considering an IUD for contraception should first discuss options with a family physician; see Women's Health on the Family Doctor page for that counselling step. Once an IUD is agreed on as the right fit, the insertion appointment is arranged through the clinic.
What to Expect
Procedures on this page are arranged after an assessment appointment confirms the procedure is appropriate; they are not booked directly online. Most in-office procedures use a local anaesthetic, so the area being treated is numbed while the patient stays awake and comfortable throughout.
Appointment length varies by procedure: ingrown toenail removal, skin excisions, cyst removal and IUD insertion are typically 30 minutes; cortisone injections are typically 20 minutes; and cryotherapy is typically 15 to 30 minutes. Aftercare instructions — covering wound care, activity restrictions and when to follow up — are given at the end of each procedure, and vary by what was done.
Coverage & Fees
For current information about uninsured services and private fees, see our Fees & Uninsured Services page.
| Procedure | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ingrown toenail removal | Manitoba Health covered |
| Skin excision / biopsy | Manitoba Health covered |
| Cyst / lipoma removal | Manitoba Health covered |
| IUD insertion | Manitoba Health covered |
| Cortisone injection | Manitoba Health covered |
| Cryotherapy (wart removal) | Manitoba Health covered |
Minor Surgery FAQ
Do I need a referral for minor surgery?
No referral is required. Procedures are scheduled after an assessment appointment confirms what's needed.
Will I be awake during the procedure?
Most procedures on this page use a local anaesthetic, so the area being treated is numbed while you stay awake throughout.
How do I book a specific procedure?
Procedures are not booked directly online. Request a general appointment and the clinic will arrange the appropriate assessment and next step.
Is minor surgery covered by Manitoba Health?
Some procedures are covered and others are billed privately — see "Coverage & Fees" above, and the full Fees & Uninsured Services page.
What's the difference between the Vandenbos procedure and standard ingrown toenail removal?
The Vandenbos procedure removes excess soft tissue rather than part of the nail itself, and is generally used for recurring or more severe cases — see "Ingrown Toenail Removal" above.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery time depends on the specific procedure — a physician will explain expected healing time and aftercare for your specific procedure at the appointment.
Can the walk-in clinic handle any of these procedures?
Urgent wound repair and suturing are handled through the walk-in clinic. Scheduled, non-urgent procedures go through minor surgery.
Who performs minor surgery at Concordia Medical Centre?
Most procedures are performed by Dr. Alaa Aboulodha and Dr. Opeyemi Opaleye, with support from a Clinical Assistant. IUD insertion is performed separately by Dr. Grazyna Lipinski.