K-Laser Therapy – Using Laser Therapy to Treat Fungal Nails
Nail fungus or onychomycosis is perhaps the single most common conditions seen by podiatrists.
One of the main reasons we see so much of it is because historically, it’s been very hard to get rid of.
The only treatment options traditionally are topical ointments or oral medications.
Topical ointments typically take more than 12 months of daily application to work. However, these treatment options have a low success rate, with some of them as low as 6%.
Oral medications are usually quicker and more effective than topical treatment options, however, they can have gastrointestinal, liver and kidney side effects.
In more recent year Laser therapy has emerged as a very real painless and effective option to try and address toenails fungus infection. The technology has been improved upon greatly in the last several years and now typically delivers excellent results.
How does laser therapy work to treat fungal nails?
Laser treatment works by selectively targeting the fungal cells. The laser heats up the infected cell and destroys them in the process.
The surrounding healthy skin will not be selected in the process and will remain unaffected therefore you will not experience any pain.
For this reason, laser treatment does not require any local anaesthesia, and there is no recovery period.
It’s a simple walk-in, walk-out procedure with no side effects and no visible harm to the nail or skin.
Research shows an effectiveness rate of about 85% for treating fungal nails with a K laser.
How many treatments will I require?
We normally recommend five weekly treatments.
At this point, we allow the nail to grow out gradually and check in on the progress several months later.
If we haven’t achieved a total resolution at this point a couple more treatments may be administered.
How much will K laser treatment for fungal nails cost:
Rather than charge for K-laser treatment based on the condition we’re treating, we just charge for the usage of the machine – which is $39 on top of our usualy consultation rate.
Does the treatment hurt?
No, there is no real pain attached to laser treatment for fungal nail conditions.
The treatment can feel warm, but your podiatrist can work with you to control this by adjusting the laser settings and keeping you comfortable.
Where can i get k laser treatment for fungal nails in Melbourne?
K lasers, like most high-end medical equipment are not cheap. There are only a handful of clinics in Melbourne offering use of them.
We are lucky enough to have not one but two of the units available at Hurst Podiatry. They are based at our Moorookbark and Healesville Head Office clinics but with a little bit of co-ordination and pre-planning we can generally make available at our Croydon and Kilsyth locations too.
Want to know more?
You can learn more about the K laser and how it works here, as well as learn about the other conditions we can treat using the k-laser – including warts, and wounds and ulcers.
Do you need to see a podiatrist in Melbourne?
If you’re experiencing pain, discomfort or an injury to your feet or lower limbs, why don’t you book in to see one of our podiatrists today? We have several clinics in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Give us a call on 03 5901 2216 or book online here.
