About
Meet Kirsten
Founder of NOVAHART
I know what it's like to live with an ingrowing toenail.
Long before I became a podiatrist, I was a patient.
As a teenager, I struggled with painful ingrowing toenails that affected almost every part of my life. Something as simple as putting on shoes, walking comfortably, or playing hockey became increasingly painful, and I found myself constantly trying to manage a problem that never truly went away.
Like many people, I hoped it would eventually settle on its own. Instead, it continued to return.
Eventually, I underwent nail surgery.
More than twenty years later, I still remember the relief of finally being free from the pain that had become such a normal part of my life.
That experience stayed with me.
It wasn't just the surgery that made an impression; it was the difference that compassionate, skilled care made during what felt like a daunting experience.
Although I didn't realise it at the time, that experience would go on to shape the career I would eventually choose.
A Career Built Around Helping Others
Nearly twenty years later, I've had the privilege of caring for thousands of patients across both the NHS and private practice.
From complex diabetic foot care to routine podiatry and nail surgery, I've seen first-hand the impact foot pain can have on confidence, mobility and quality of life.
Yet one pattern kept repeating itself.
Patients would arrive having lived with recurring ingrowing toenails for months, or sometimes years. Many had experienced repeated infections, several courses of antibiotics, multiple appointments to have the offending nail edge removed, only for the problem to return again and again.
Some simply didn't know that a permanent solution existed. Others had never been given the opportunity to fully understand what nail surgery involved or whether it was the right option for them.
By the time they came to see me, many were exhausted by the cycle and simply wanted it to end.
Why I Created NOVAHART
Seeing this pattern time and time again made me realise that patients didn't just need nail surgery.
They needed a clearer pathway.
One that provided honest advice, specialist assessment and the information to make confident decisions about their care, without spending years trapped in a cycle of temporary treatments.
That's why I created NOVAHART.
A practice dedicated exclusively to the assessment and surgical treatment of ingrowing toenails, where every consultation, every procedure and every stage of recovery has been thoughtfully designed around the patient experience.
Because I know what it's like to live with an ingrowing toenail. And I know how life-changing it can be when the problem is finally resolved.
Professional Credentials
Alongside my specialist focus on nail surgery, I bring nearly two decades of clinical experience gained across both NHS and private practice.