Picture this: Summer arrives in Southwest Florida, and everyone around you is sporting open-toed shoes and sandals. But you find yourself reaching for closed-toe shoes again, hiding toenails damaged by fungal infections, injury, or repeated ingrown nail treatments. The beach beckons, pool parties call, but the thought of exposing your feet fills you with dread. Sound familiar?
You're not alone. Many active Fort Myers residents face similar challenges with damaged or unsightly toenails that affect their confidence and limit their footwear choices. Whether affected by fungal infections that resist traditional treatments, trauma from sports activities, or surgical procedures to address chronic ingrown toenails, your nails' appearance doesn't have to hold you back from enjoying Southwest Florida's year-round outdoor lifestyle.
The Keryflex Nail Restoration System is a breakthrough in cosmetic podiatric care, offering an immediate solution while your natural nails recover.
At Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Care, our Fort Myers podiatrists, Dr. Melissa Winter and Dr. Michael Marcano, use this innovative treatment to transform your toenails' appearance in a single office visit, giving you back the confidence to wear the shoes you love and fully participate in your favorite activities.
Understanding Keryflex Transforms Your Toenails
Keryflex is a specialized cosmetic nail restoration system that creates the appearance of healthy, natural-looking toenails over damaged nail beds. This innovative treatment uses a medical-grade resin material that bonds directly to your existing nail and surrounding skin, forming a flexible, durable artificial nail that looks like a healthy, natural nail.
The system is specifically for patients with toenails damaged by fungal infections, trauma, surgical procedures, or congenital nail disorders. Unlike traditional nail prosthetics or artificial nails used in salons, Keryflex is applied by trained podiatrists in a medical setting and designed specifically for toenail restoration.
The Keryflex material is completely safe and hypoallergenic, making it suitable for most patients. Once applied, the restoration allows air and moisture to pass through, which helps maintain healthy conditions for the underlying nail bed while providing protection and aesthetic improvement.
Examining the Conditions We Treat With Keryflex Nail Restoration
Our Fort Myers podiatrists recommend Keryflex treatment for nail conditions affecting both appearance and patient confidence, such as:
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Fungal toenail infections. Even after successful antifungal treatment, nails often remain discolored, thickened, or misshapen for months or years while a healthy nail slowly grows. Keryflex provides immediate aesthetic improvement while protecting the healing nail bed during recovery.
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Post-surgical nail restoration. This helps patients who have undergone procedures to address chronic ingrown toenails or other nail conditions. Surgical treatments sometimes result in permanent changes to nail appearance or partial nail removal. Keryflex can restore the toenail's natural appearance while protecting sensitive post-surgical areas.
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Traumatic nail damage. Trauma from sports injuries, dropped objects, or other accidents can leave nails permanently discolored, ridged, or partially missing. Active people often sustain nail injuries from tennis, golf, running, or other activities. Keryflex allows them to return to their active lifestyle without self-consciousness.
Exploring the Benefits of Keryflex
Patients who choose Keryflex experience numerous benefits that extend beyond simple cosmetic improvement. These advantages make the treatment particularly appealing for people who want to maintain their Southwest Florida lifestyle without limitations.
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Immediate aesthetic improvement. Unlike waiting months or years for nails to grow naturally, patients leave the office with natural-looking nails that restore their confidence in wearing open-toed shoes, sandals, or barefoot on the beach.
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Protection for damaged nail beds. The breathable protective barrier helps prevent further damage while allowing the underlying nail to recover in a controlled environment.
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Stronger natural nails. Many patients find their natural nails grow healthier and stronger under the Keryflex restoration.
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Durable and long-lasting. Keryflex restorations typically maintain their appearance for several months with proper care, withstanding normal activities like swimming, exercising, and wearing various footwear.
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Polishable. Regular nail polish can be applied and removed without damaging the restoration.
What to Discuss With Your Fort Myers Podiatrist
A thorough exam and consultation can help determine if you're a candidate for Keryflex. Be sure to discuss the following during your appointment:
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Your medical history, as certain medical conditions, medications, or active infections, may affect your candidacy for Keryflex restoration
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Your nail symptoms, including when they started
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Previous nail treatments
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Treatment goals and expectations
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How long you plan to wear the Keryflex restoration
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Aftercare instructions and maintenance schedules
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Whether additional treatments for underlying conditions are recommended
What to Expect During Your Restoration: How the Keryflex Application Process Works
Keryflex restoration is straightforward and typically completed during a single office visit. Understanding what to expect can help you prepare for treatment and feel more comfortable with the procedure.
We begin by thoroughly cleaning and preparing the affected nail and surrounding skin. Then we carefully trim and shape any remaining damaged nail material to create an optimal foundation for the Keryflex application. Next, we sanitize the nail bed and surrounding skin to ensure proper bonding and reduce infection risk.
The Keryflex resin goes on in layers, and we allow each layer to cure under a specialized UV light before applying the next. We shape and contour the nail to match your other toenails as closely as possible.
Once we've applied and cured the final layer, we trim and buff the restoration to achieve a natural appearance and comfortable fit within your shoes. The finished result immediately provides the appearance of a healthy, natural toenail and can be painted with regular nail polish if desired.
Maintaining Your Keryflex Restoration
Proper care of your Keryflex restoration ensures optimal appearance and longevity while protecting both the artificial nail and your natural nail underneath. In addition to regular follow-up appointments with our office to monitor the restoration and the healing progress of your natural nail, daily hygiene is crucial to maintaining the Keryflex. We recommend washing your feet gently with mild soap and water and cleaning around the restoration without excessive scrubbing or harsh chemicals.