What is Laser Fungal Treatment?
Fungal infection of finger and toenails
Dr. Solon is proud to be able to offer laser treatment as a safe
and effective alternative for the treatment of fungal nail
infections. Traditional treatments for fungal nail infections
include topical treatment which requires daily application of
medication to the nails for up to a year, with a reported 7% to 10%
cure rate; oral medication which requires blood testing prior to
and during treatment, and has the potential to cause liver damage,
with a 40%-50% reported cure rate. Laser treatment for fungal nail
infections has been developed over the last several years and has
become the gold standard for the treatment of finger and toenail
fungal infections with a reported 80% cure rate. Laser treatment is
performed in the office and in most instances requires only one
treatment; the procedure is pain free; there are no known side
effects; the procedure is safe for children and you can return to
your normal activities immediately; females can have their nails
painted immediately as well. Call our office today to schedule a
consultation for your nails.
Successful Treatment:
Successful treatment of nail fungal conditions may reduce the
thickness of the nail, decrease discomfort associated with the
involved nails, improve the appearance (color and shape of the
nail) and may make trimming easier. The various treatment methods
all have differing success rates and no treatment option can be
said to have a 100% success rate.
How does laser treatment work?:
Doctor Solon uses a Q-Switched NdYAG laser, which is one of the
most advanced dermatological lasers currently available. In 3-10
billionths of a second, impulses of laser energy pass through the
nail to the nail bed and the nail growth area with typically no
damage to the nail or surrounding skin. At the time of the
procedure the infecting nail fungus is expected to be destroyed.
However, no visible change is seen in the nail until the nail
begins to grow out. In a few months, a more normal appearing nail
is expected to appear with complete regrowth of the nail taking
from 6-12 months.
Is the laser treatment covered by my healthcare
insurance?:
At this time healthcare insurance does not cover the cost of the
treatment of nail fungus as the procedure is considered a cosmetic
procedure. However, you may use your Health Savings Account or
other Health Account dollars to pay for this procedure
(reimbursement from HSA will depend on your HSA terms and
conditions).
Is laser treatment uncomfortable?:
Most individuals report that they do not feel any discomfort during
or after the treatment. You may, however, experience a slight
warmth or feel a mild snapping (like static electricity discharge)
during the procedure. If you have any discomfort during your
treatment, you should let the doctor know and he will make
appropriate adjustments to decrease any discomfort. The use of
local anesthetics is not recommended or required for laser
treatment of fungal nail conditions.
What is the recovery period?:
There is no recovery period. You may immediately resume all normal
daily activities, including athletic activities after your
treatment and may resume normal daily bathing. You may have nail
polish applied after your treatment. If you do have any concerns or
questions after your treatment, please contact our office and we
will be happy to answer any questions you have.
How long does laser treatment take?:
The treatment time of your nails varies depending on the degree of
involvement and the number of nails involved. Significantly
thickened nails will need to be thinned to a more normal thickness
prior to treatment to provide you with a better result. The actual
lasering of the nails only takes a few minutes and again depends on
the number of nails that have fungal infection. Total treatment
time for initial evaluation and treatment of ten nails typically
takes 30-40 minutes.
Can the fungal infection return?:
The fungal nail infection should improve with just one treatment,
however most individuals will require at least two laser
treatments. For nails that are deformed, you should not necessarily
expect a completely normal shaped nail to replace the deformed nail
over time, though the shape of the nail may significantly improve.
The fungal infection can and does over time cause permanent damage
to the cells that cause your nails to grow, this cell damage is not
repaired by the laser (the fungus is killed). As with most anything
in life and as with most any medical procedure, 100% guarantee or
assurance can not and is not given as to the results that will be
obtained with laser treatment of your nails. That being said, the
philosophy of Dr. Solon's medical practice always has been and
continues to be to provide you the very best care possible for your
presenting condition. I can assure you that we would not have laser
treatment available to you if substantial improvement of your
condition and your satisfaction was not likely. Reinfection can
occur as fungus is present in our daily environment, particularly
our shoes. There are topical sprays for your shoe gear that we have
available at our office to help prevent reinfection. We will
be happy to give you additional advice on strategies to reduce
the chances of reinfection.
Is the laser FDA approved:
The Q-Clear laser is FDA-approved laser for the treatment of
onychomycosis (fungal nail infection) of the finger and toenails.
It is also approved to treat other dermatological conditions of the
soft tissues. Other conditions the Q-Clear laser is used to treat
include: hair removal, spider veins, warts, pigmented skin lesions
and tattoo removal.
How much does laser treatment cost?:
The cost of the treatment varies depending on the number of nails
involved and the severity of the infection. At the present time the
national average for the laser treatment of nail fungal infections
is between $500 & $1,200 for one to ten nails. However, we are able
to reduce the cost for you as Dr. Solon has purchased a
state-of-the-art laser and can provide exceptional treatment
results during a shorter treatment time. Our fees range between
$495 - $1,495 for two treatments; you will be given a quote as to
the number of nails involved (requiring treatment) and the cost
prior to treatment. Included in your initial treatment
cost is two follow-up evaluations and
one retreatment four months after the initial treatment.
