Removing the Nail

Complete avulsion, or removal of the nail plate is another option for treating onychomycosis. This relatively simple procedure can be done in the office. Your doctor will numb the toe and remove the nail with sterile instruments. After the procedure, the toe may appear unusual until a new nail grows out. Either a topical or an oral antifungal can be used following the procedure to ensure that the new nail that grows will be free of infection; however, no guarantees can be made. Some patients elect to have their nail(s) permanently removed—applying a chemical to the nail matrix after the nail has been removed does this. A thin layer of skin will grow in the nail’s place, and if you paint your toenails, this layer of skin will appear like a normal nail—no one will notice that the nail is missing. There is about a 10% chance that the nail will grow back despite chemical destruction.