“Watched the Toe Bro? He just takes off all the fungal nails!”. No, I replied, but duly booked him in to have his chronically infected toenails removed as part of a treatment plan. Usually, I spend quite a bit of time with patients, trying to explain the rationale for taking off their seriously infected mycotic nails. Not so in the case of this patient, he wanted them taken off so we could allow healthy nails to grow back. Other similar patient requests followed.
So, who is The Toe Bro? The Toe Bro was definitely making my life easier. My clinic Compleet Feet is already a progressive podiatry clinic. We already do what The Toe Bro does, unlike the majority of UK podiatrists. They are more conservative and risk adverse. The Toe Bro pushes the barriers. UK podiatrists can do what he does. We have the skill set, but generally stick to conventional treatments which in effect offers patients less treatment choice.
Stand Up Jonathan Tomines
The Toe Bro, aka Jonathan Tomines is a Canadian Chiropodist/ Podiatrist. He has become a media sensation. He attracts millions of viewers. He has an easy relaxed friendly manner which wins patients over. His 2019, TV reality documentary series was aired on UK TV earlier this year. It was an unexpected success. Added to his TV success, Jonathan has his ownhttps://www.compleetfeet.co.uk/new-fungal-nail-treatments-2019-a-tailored-treatment-approach/ YouTube channel. People say it is the foot equivalent of Dr Pimple Popper! Dr Pimple Popper is a massive YouTube sensation. Watching a juicy sebaceous cyst being squeezed is so satisfying for some.
People liked to be ‘grossed out’ by graphic images of what a podiatrist treats daily. Seeing a chronic ingrown toenail being surgically removed, has people on the edge of their seats or peering from behind a sofa! Even I was gripped to the screen, only because The Toe Bro endorsed what I already do. He recommends removing chronically infected fungal toenails.
Surgically taking off fungal nails offers the greatest chance of eradicating difficult to treat mycotic infections. At Compleet Feet we combine this option of surgery with Lunula laser. Watch my YouTube video. This maximises results. Deeply entrenched infections require what is considered a more radical treatment approach. It is a real game changer, unfortunately, the notion of having toenails surgically removed fills patients with dread, but if The Toe Bro does it, then it must be good!
Reality of Surgical Fungal Toenail Removal
It is an easy, quick, and safe procedure when performed in expert hands. Toenail beds heal on average within the week. Once healed, a course of FDA approved Lunula laser is started. This accelerates healthy nail growth and re-condition nail beds, whilst eradicating any deeply seated fungal spores. It is a procedure which helps to break the cycle of infection. Many patients have spent wasted months or even years trying in vain to treat their infection, only to watch in dismay as it spreads. The longer an untreated fungal nail is left, the more nail bed damage occurs with increased thickening and distortion of the plate. This cannot always be reversed.
Surgical nail removal is not recommended for every patient. No one case is the same. It is highly effective for more chronically infected nails, whereby at least half or all of the plate is infected, or several nails are involved. Great for dermatophytomas. These deep yellow streaked nails need to be removed. Chances of conservatively treating them alone are low. They may have the presence of a treatment resistant fungal biofilm.
Older chronically infected nails have a higher chance of having biofilms. Biofilms are organised microscopic films which trap dormant fungal spores. Drugs cannot reach them. Later, these spores become active. This is one of the main reason conventional treatments fail. Best to get them off as part of a tailored treatment plan. It is not healthy to have fungal infected nails.
The Toe Bro offers patients real treatment results. He like Compleet Feet wants to ‘fix’. What he does, is what many progressive podiatrists do routinely. In making it all a bit more sensational and toe curling he reaches a wider audience. This works for me; he has managed to get the word out. On a personal note he has proven to be a great asset for UK podiatrists, who like myself just want to be on top of their game, to offer for their patients.
Thank you Jonathan, looking forward to the next series.
