Cost of Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is a nasty infection of the toes, which affects about 25 million of the world's population. It is often a cause of social embarrassment for people. What more, the infection is so stubborn that it hardly responds to a treatment, once it gets deep inside the nail. If you have tried all the oral, topical medications for toenail fungus, but to no avail, then you should perhaps give laser treatment a try. Laser treatment is an emerging treatment option which promises to effectively get rid of toenail fungus. Many people are seeking this innovative treatment option owing to its bright results.

Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus Reviews

This treatment makes use of a laser beam to kill the fungal infection. The laser beam generates sufficient amount of heat in order to vaporize the fungus. The laser beam is controlled using a hand held device, hence only the infected part of toe is subjected to the laser beam. Laser treatment is a quick treatment that can be completed in less than 10 minutes. About 80% of the fungal infection can be cleared in the first session. After the first session, the toenail begins to grow normally, provided the nail bed is healthy. Rarely a second session may be required to eradicate the remaining fungal infection.

Laser treatment does not provide any damage to the underlying tissues. Besides, it also does not produce any undesirable side effects. This is not the case with toenail fungus treatment over the counter. Certain oral medications are known to induce side effects in some people. Hence, not everyone qualifies for this type of medications. However, laser treatment can be performed on any individual, including children. Thus, this is a good treatment option for people who do not qualify for OTC medications. The treatment is virtually painless without any recovery time. Though, the results are not instantaneous, the condition of the nail surely improves within weeks. In a year's time, the nail and the surrounding area should appear perfectly normal and healthy. This treatment also reduces the chances of fungal infection in future. The only factor that goes against this treatment is its cost.

How Much Does It Cost

The cost of laser treatment is several hundred dollars. The high price of this treatment is what forces people to seek other options. On an average, you should expect to spend anywhere between USD 200 to USD 500 towards this treatment. However, this cost is only for a single session, hence, if you need more than one session, then the cost will go even higher. Besides, the charges may not be uniform everywhere. A high-end clinic in a plush locality could cost you a fortune for this treatment. The biggest drawback of this treatment is that it is not covered by an insurance. Since, this treatment comes under aesthetic treatments, it is not considered as a necessary treatment by the insurance companies. Hence, you will have to shell money from your own pocket to cover the expenses.

Irrespective of the high cost, many people are still willing to undergo this treatment. However, this treatment is only recommended in severe cases of toenail fungus. Mild or moderate infections should be treated with other methods.