Laser correction of ingrown nail: the advantages and disadvantages of laser treatment
As the statistics show, every second person faces an unpleasant illness - an ingrown nail. Otherwise, the disease is called onychocryptosis.
The disease can be diagnosed if the nail on the toes or hands has grown into the skin, is deformed, as a result of which an inflammatory process has occurred, and the skin around the face has strongly reddened. In case of severe inflammation, pus begins to stand out, this indicates a serious problem that needs to be resolved immediately.
Previously, with ingrown nails, a classic operation was performed with a scalpel, which caused pain, after which a person had a long, difficult rehabilitation period.
Today, in the age of modern technology, laser correction of an ingrown nail passes without pain. Let us consider in more detail the weight of the nuances of this procedure below.
When to see a doctor
A visit to a doctor is necessary if unpleasant symptoms appear, for example, swelling, redness or pain. Also in the case of increased pain when pressing on the finger in any case, you should not postpone the visit to the specialist.
Advantages and disadvantages of laser treatment
After the doctor has removed the ingrown nail with a laser beam, the person has a great opportunity to quickly return to normal life, forget about the unpleasant pathology. The only drawback of this method is its high cost; in addition, a laser procedure can be performed by no means to all patients.
Laser nail correction has a large number of advantages.
In the event that the operation was successful, the person will never grow a nail into the skin:
- The effectiveness of the method in which there is no recurrence.
- Low probability of injury, when compared with a simple surgical method.
- The recovery period does not last long. The general term of recovery usually does not exceed one month.
- Under the influence of a laser, pathogenic microorganisms are killed, especially in those people who often suffer from a fungal infection.
- After the operation, the nail gets an aesthetic appearance, since the skin is practically not injured, so there are no scars.
Does it hurt to remove ingrown toenails?
Each person may face the problem of deformation of the nail on the arm or leg. Most often, the nail grows due to wearing tight shoes, as a result of a manicure or pedicure done in the wrong way, as a rule, this results in deep cutting of the skin. In addition, various injuries on the fingers, a hereditary factor, nail fungus, flat feet can cause oniocryptosis.
Those people who are faced with such a terrible problem, I want to know how unpleasant it is to remove an ingrown nail with a laser. Specialists can not give an accurate answer, many of them are inclined to believe that the session will pass without pain.
Laser correction of the ingrown nail is not as terrible as it seems at first glance, since the area being operated on is subject to local anesthesia. Thus, a person during the procedure of laser removal of the nail will not feel much discomfort.
A person should properly tune in to the operation, because if you do not conduct it, complications may appear that will adversely affect the work of the whole organism. The finger can even be amputated if the problem is not notified to the doctor in time.
Laser removal of ingrown nail and post-correction period
If the nail has grown into the skin, the first thing to do is to visit a specialist who will determine the stage of the ingrown nail, will also mark the need to remove part of the nail plate or completely the entire nail. In addition, the doctor must carefully examine all other fingers for the presence of this pathology, because only a professional can see the problem at the very early stage. Most often nails grow on the big toes.
In the event that a finger has grown due to a fungal disease, the patient may be given some tests. These include the general analysis of urine and blood analysis for bacteriological research. With the help of the last analysis, it is possible to determine the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the body, what type they are, how sensitive they are to drugs.
The summary of this analysis will be necessary after the operation has passed. An allergy test may also be given. Thus, the body's sensitivity to anesthetic drugs, which are administered to the patient during the procedure, must be identified.
Sometimes a doctor may send an X-ray of the nail if there is a suspicion that the bone tissue may be damaged by the nail. In the event that the skin around the nail is severely inflamed, there is suppuration, before removing the nail, it should be carefully treated. First of all, stop the process of decay, remove swelling, redness. The specialist in this case prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs, antiseptics, in some situations the patient can take drugs that fight fungus. Next is the operation itself.
Correction procedure
Laser removal of an ingrown nail is a radical measure that helps to solve the problem of a deformed nail, if other methods do not allow to correct it. After the laser exposure to the patient's nail, the patient has little injured neighboring tissue of the patient's finger. Therapy is carried out exclusively in the hospital. Twenty minutes before the operation, the patient is injected with an anesthetic into the lateral rollers of the finger, this may be Novocain, Lidocaine or Ultracain.
With the help of a laser can be carried out several types of effects on the sore nail:
- The affected nail plate can be removed altogether. The place where the nail grew out is covered with skin, after which the plate will never grow again.
- The side of the nail plate is removed simultaneously with the germ zone. After that, it will never grow in this place, and the nail plate itself will become narrow.
- Excised only that part of the nail that has grown, while the germ zone does not touch. With this method there is a high probability that the nail will begin to grow into the skin again, but this technique is considered the least traumatic.
Removal of the ingrown nail with a laser beam does not take much time, first of all, it depends on the complexity of the work, the volume of the cut-out area. In general, the nail plate is adjusted no more than half an hour. At this time, the surgeon with a laser beam excised the part that has grown. Under the action of the laser plate practically evaporates along with the nail root.
The doctor does not need to cut through the skin, as the laser beam destroys the area that was subject to deformation. The peculiarity of this painless method is that during the operation there is no bleeding, as the device kills bacteria and at the same time burns the skin.
Post-correction period
After the laser removal of the ingrown nail, it will be easy for the patient to return to the previous state. After that, there is practically no pain, at the end of the procedure, the antiseptic treats the place from which the nail plate was cut, after which a bandage from a sterile bandage is applied to the finger.
The period to full recovery does not exceed one month. At this time it is necessary to treat the wound with an antiseptic, dressing. This procedure can be carried out independently without the help of a doctor.
A day after surgery, the doctor removes the tampon from the wound. After that, the sore spot is washed, the bandage is applied again, it should be done twice a day. Seven days later, the nail should be allowed to breathe, that is, leave it without a bandage. It is not allowed to apply powders or ointments for the fastest healing.
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Treatment of an ingrown nail with a laser and its cost
It is not possible to influence the laser on each person, since the method has enough contraindications. However, treatment of an ingrown nail with a laser has more advantages than disadvantages, and is completely different from surgery .
The most important contraindications are cancer, poor blood clotting, diabetes, pregnancy. Also, for various viral diseases, laser correction is not carried out. In order not to form a recurrence or complications, it is better to do this operation when the body is completely healthy.
Cost of
On average in Russia, treatment of an ingrown nail with a laser does not exceed 3,000 rubles. However, much depends on the amount of work, clinic, professionalism of the doctor.
Preventive measures
In order for onychocryptosis not to develop again, it is necessary to observe preventive measures:
- It should properly cut the nails during a manicure or pedicure.
- Shoes should be chosen comfortable, it should not be tight, should not rub or squeeze the fingers.
- If the nail has already begun to grow, then the foot or arm should not be loaded.
- It is recommended to walk more often without shoes, barefoot at home.
- As soon as a fungal infection begins to manifest, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin proper treatment.
- After the operation, you cannot go to the sauna, pool or bath for a month.
Ingrown nails not only cause great inconvenience, cause pain when walking and at rest, the disease can also provoke other pathologies associated with the proliferation of bacteria in the affected area, which can get into the blood.
If suddenly there are painful sensations in the area of the thumb or little finger, you should immediately consult a doctor. Otherwise, instead of a lightweight method of correcting the nail, you will have to remove the ingrown nail plate surgically, after which the rehabilitation period will be much higher.
