Daily Archives: July 30, 2014

Toenail fungus is a problem that no one wants to have. But when it becomes unavoidable and an infection occurs, there are a variety of methods that sufferers can employ to remove it. Among them is surgery. However, this is generally only recommended when the fungal infection is very severe. The surgery can implement the removal of the entire nail. And that’s no fun!

How is the surgery performed? According to WebMD.com, surgical nail removal can be done at either a clinic or a doctor’s office. The site describes two types of removal. There is “avulsion” which is the removal of the entire nail. There is also “debridement” which indicates that only part of the nail is removed. The processes for each are similar, and neither sound all that enjoyable to experience.

To alleviate pain, an injection is made into the finger or toe where the nail needs to be removed, reveals WebMD.com. The doctor then loosens the skin surrounding the infected nail so that it can be separated from the skin using a tool that goes underneath the nail. Following the removal of either the entire nail or part of it, an antibiotic ointment is applied to the wound, and it is then covered with gauze and tape.

So what can be expected after surgery? WebMD.com notes that the wound needs to be clean and dried regularly for the first few weeks following the surgery. The antibiotic ointment also needs to be regularly applied. Full healing is expected within a few weeks, however the nails do take much longer to grow back. The website reveals that it takes about six months for fingernails and between 12 and 18 months for toenails!

Are there any drawbacks to the surgery? As you can imagine, removing a fingernail or toenail hurts! The website admits that pain is the most obvious risk with surgically removing infected nails. This is why such a procedure is only performed if a large portion of the nail is considered diseased or damage, or if the infection is already very painful. There are other risks as well.

WebMD.com notes that the risk of infection can increase if the area is not kept clean, dry and regularly treated with antibiotic ointment. Constant care of the operated-upon area is very important for a full recovery. Unfortunately, the nails are not guaranteed to grow back perfectly either. The site notes that sometimes, abnormal nail growth results post-surgery. They could grow back in odd shapes and have strange appearances.

So is surgery a viable option? It all depends on the severity of your infection, we suppose. The site reveals that when a nail is completely removed and antifungal cream is applied, it increases the chance of a complete cure of the infection. As well, “for a chronic severe fungal nail infection, you can choose to have the nail matrix destroyed during the removal procedure. This treatment prevents a diseased or disfigured nail from growing back.”

Surgery, it is important to remember, should be considered a last resort. A safer, more pain-free solution can be found in Zetaclear. This incredible fungus-fighter is revered as the #1 customer recommended solution for toenail fungus. The one-two punch of a topical solution combined with a homeopathic oral spray has been known to knock toenail fungus right out. For more information, log on to the Zetaclear website today!