Nail reconstruction is a great way to restore the look of a healthy nail, but it should not be considered a permanent solution. The length of time that the reconstructed nail lasts can vary from person to person, but it is typically around 4 to 8 weeks. The Wilde-pedique nail reconstruction needs to be filled in every 6-8 weeks until your nails grow out.

Toenail reconstruction involves using a gel to build up the nail and then hardening it with a UV light. The process is similar to that of gel nails, but the product used is very different. Toenail reconstruction requires a special kind of gel that is not used for gel nails in a salon and aims to replicate the look and feel of a natural nail.

The solution used to create a reconstructed toenail is different for a number of reasons, such as:

• The reconstructed nail will not hinder the growth of your natural nail, nor will it damage the nail underneath, allowing your natural nail to grow back healthily and eventually replace the prosthetic toenail.

• Nail reconstruction can only be performed by a skilled and HCPC-registered podiatrist.

• The nail created in the toenail reconstruction method is a prosthetic nail, aiming to replicate the look and feel of your natural nail. It is not an acrylic nail.

• The gel used when undertaking toenail reconstruction is flexible, allowing the toe and nail to move naturally with the foot's movement. The gel used in salons for fingernails will harden under UV light.

Nail reconstruction is a fairly routine procedure, it will typically follow these steps.

1. First, we will file the nail to reduce any unwanted thickening of your natural nail as well as any loose or crumbly fragments of the nail that may occur during injury or infection.

2. The toenail is then cleaned, removing any oils generated by the skin and disinfecting the area.

3. We will then apply a dehydrating solution to the nail plate. This allows the gel to bond better with the nail plate.

4. We will then begin to apply the gel layers to the remaining nail and the nail bed, curing each one under a UV light. Once we have reached the desired thickness of the gel, we can begin to shape and buff smooth the gel, creating the appearance of a regular, healthy nail.

A reconstructed toenail can then be treated just the same as you would your natural nail, meaning you can apply nail polish (not gel) and remove it with an acetone-free nail polish remover.

We suggest that nail reconstruction works best when applied to a nail bed with at least a small section of the nail. Wilde-pedique can be used on scaly nail surfaces, such as psoriatic nails. It can be used to hide the discolouration of fungal nails. It can also be used when a nail is torn or split to assist it in growing out without further tearing or breaking. Nail reconstruction can enhance the appearance of nails suffering from:

• Thickened toenails

• Lifted, cracked or damaged toenails

• Fungal nails

• Partially missing nails (from surgery or injury)