A fungal infection can leave your toenails brittle, crumbling, and discolored. Other conditions and trauma may also alter the look of your toes, making you feel embarrassed to reveal them in public.
Nail restoration from a podiatrist reconstructs the surface of your nail so it looks normal and healthy as your nail grows back or recovers. The groundbreaking, pain-free KeryFlex® system not only makes your nails look better, it’s flexible enough to move with your toe, whether you’re walking, running, or dancing.
At Apple Podiatry Group — with offices in Arlington, Flower Mound, and Fort Worth, Texas — our expert podiatrists Jarna Rathod-Bhatt, DPM, and Rahul Bhatt, DPM, use KeryFlex to restore toenails. They may recommend nail restoration if your toenails are:
If you’re a candidate for KeryFlex, what happens during nail restoration? And how should you treat your nails afterward? The answers are below.
You must have at least 15% of your toenail present for us to restore it. We first trim the nail and file it down.
We also debride any crumbling nail or other debris so your nail can accept the KeryFlex treatment. At this time, you can tell us whether you prefer the natural or opaque KeryFlex color.
Restoring your nail with KeryFlex is a very similar procedure to repairing chipped or broken teeth with dental bonding. We apply the KeryFlex Bonding Agent to your toenail, followed by the first layer of Flex resin. Flex is a medical-grade gel that allows us to build up and sculpt your nail for a natural look.
Next, we harden the first coat of resin for two minutes using an ultraviolet light. If necessary, we apply another layer or two of Flex, hardening it before the next coat. After the material is strong and hard, we mold it, shape it, and file it to a smooth surface. Your nail looks healthy and normal again.
To make your nail feel as glossy and smooth as a natural nail, we also buff your nail. Your nail is now as attractive and healthy as a toenail can be.
After we reshape and smooth your nail, we apply a layer of sealant. The sealant is also cured and hardened with the ultraviolet light. The final cure only takes about two minutes. The entire process, from prep to finish, averages approximately 30 minutes.
Once you leave our office, your KeryFlex nails are good to go. You can wear sandals and show them off, wear sneakers and head to the gym, or just put on your street shoes and head back to work.
Because the KeryFlex material is flexible, you won’t have to worry about it cracking or loosening. Your new toenails act like healthy, natural nails.
You can leave them as is, or paint them with nail polish. Neither polish nor remover will adversely affect your restored nails.
Your restored nails will continue to grow as your healthy nail grows, too. However, you should never clip your KeryFlex toenails; clipping can interfere with the bonding and cause the KeryFlex nail to split. Use a nail file or emery board to file down your nails to an appropriate length.
Don’t hide your toes or feel ashamed of the way they look. Restore your nails with KeryFlex by contacting the office nearest you today by phone or online form.
