Sterling Foot Clinic
Ettie-Jane Pearce
PODIATRIST
Treatments:
Standard Appointment (£50) :
This appointment usually takes place every 6-8 weeks. Each pair of feet is different so this appointment will include different treatments for each individual. Including toenail cutting and filing, hard skin and/or corn removal and verruca management.
Short Appointment (£35) :
This appointment is for straightforward treatment, as it is shorter in time. This includes individual treatments such as simple nail cutting, and silicone prop re-do.
Fingernail cut (£10) :
To be added onto a foot appointment only.
Home Visits :
AS OF 01/08/2022 ALL HOME VISITS HAVE STOPPED. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A RELIABLE RECOMMENDATION.
5 Minute fungal nail test (£45) :
This is a very quick and pain-free procedure, very much like a lateral flow test, however, clippings of the nails are taken instead of a swab in the throat/nose. The result quickly shows a positive test confirms the presence of dermatophytes and thus fungal nail infection in a small nail sample by a process known as immune -chromatography. If the test is negative, then fungal nail infection is not present and further consideration must be given to other nail pathologies.
This treatment price is just for the test itself and a letter to your GP to confirm findings (if needed), if you require a foot health appointment as well as the test, this will be added on top.
Ingrowing Toenails:
Many cases of ingrowing toenails are mild and do not require local anaesthetic. If this is the case, a small portion of the nail will be cut back to relieve any pressure, and often, this is all that is required, along with advice on how to avoid the toenail ingrowing again. This is covered under a 'Standard appointment'.
Suppose I find the nail is likely to require nail surgery under local anaesthetic, we offer this at Sterling Foot Clinic. Alternatively, we can refer you to the Podiatry service through your GP to perform the procedure under the NHS.
Nail Surgery :
Nail surgery is a straightforward solution for persistent problems like ingrown toenails, unsightly nails, or stubborn fungal infections.
What is Nail Surgery?
Nail surgery involves removing all or part of the toenail. It is typically considered when non-surgical treatments have been ineffective. Depending on the severity of the issue, the procedure may involve either a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA), where part of the nail is removed, or a Total Nail Avulsion (TNA), where the entire nail is removed. Depending on why nail surgery is needed, a chemical called Phenol may be used to prevent the piece of nail removed from regrowing as a long-term solution.
Before surgery, an in-depth consultation and health check are required to ensure eligibility and discuss the procedure and aftercare.
Pricing:
One toe - £495
Additional toe/s - £155
This price includes a pre-op consultation, the procedure and two post-op check-ups (usually the day after the procedure and 2 weeks later). You will also receive a treatment pack on the first check-up, which includes everything needed to care for your wound until the following check-up.
Verrucae:
Although verrucae are harmless and benign lesions, they can be painful when they form on a weight-bearing foot area. The HPV virus causes verrucae. Their classic appearance is cauliflower-like, often containing small black dots.
They vary in size and number. Sometimes, a verruca can spread quickly into a cluster of many tiny verrucae. Evidence has shown that, in many cases, verrucae will disappear of their own accord within two years. Therefore, if it is painless, often no treatment is required.
You may wish to seek treatment for painful, unsightly verrucae or ones that are spreading. I offer SWIFT microwave therapy, dry needling and Verrutop. All treatments are explained below.
From experience, we have found that each patient and each verruca requires a different approach, so you will need a consultation to examine the lesion and discuss the options available.
Swift Microwave Therapy (£125):
(£100 per treatment; at least three treatments are usually required)
What is SWIFT?
SWIFT is a reasonably new technology developed in the UK and licensed to treat skin lesions in podiatry and dermatology. Swift uses microwave energy, delivered through a special probe applied to the skin to treat the affected tissue.
Does it hurt?
Like many treatments for skin lesions, SWIFT may cause some discomfort. Pain levels vary from person to person, but most people who undergo it liken it to an injection, lasting 2-3 seconds and or a wasp sting, then quickly subsiding.
What can I do after treatment?
The treated area may sometimes feel sore/ bruised but will not prevent you from taking normal daily activities.
How many treatments will I need?
This is dependent on how you respond to treatment. In some cases, you may need more than one treatment. Your Podiatrist can discuss this with you.
Dry Needling (£250 per session):
This treatment involves puncturing the skin cells infected with the virus multiple times with a needle. This exposes the virus particles to the subcutaneous fat layer, which is rich in immune cells.
This action potentially initiates a systemic immune response, leading to the regression of the verruca. Unlike other treatments such as caustics, which can entail dozens of applications to be effective, needling requires one, very occasionally, two sessions.
The procedure is painless as it is carried out under a local anaesthetic, which may be slightly uncomfortable when administered. While a few patients have reported mild soreness the day after, most experience no discomfort following treatment.
Treatment Procedure
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Local Anaesthetic: Depending on the verruca’s location, a suitable anaesthetic technique (tibial block, digital block, or local infiltration) is applied to numb the area.
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Needling: A hollow needle punctures the verruca multiple times until the lesion is thoroughly perforated and the epidermis does not resist.
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Dressing: A sterile, non-adherent dressing is applied to protect the area after the procedure. This dressing should be kept dry for at least 24 hours. It is essential to avoid anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, as these can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
Nail Painting:
We have many different colours of both Gel Polish and Nail Polish. This is a treatment that must be added to a Podiatry appointment.
Nail polish- £15
Gel Polish- £20
Ottoform/Bland Rose silicone toe props:
Both Ottoform and Bland rose are available for toe props to be custom-made. Ottoform is a lot harder so usually Bland rose is used. They can be made into any shape or size to offload pressure from a certain area. This pressure is usually in-between the toes or underneath the toes causing discomfort or corns which then become painful.
Please see the pictures below.
Verrutop (starting from £55):
Verrutop is a new treatment in the UK and is a Class 2A Healthcare Product, which should only be used by a qualified medical professional.
It is a topical solution based on a unique combination of three organic acids, lactic, acetic, and oxalic, combined with copper and zinc salts plus nitric acid to produce “Nitric Zinc Complex”. The treatment is applied in the clinic, and surgical spirit must be applied to the area/s twice daily.
The number of sessions varies for several reasons, such as the size, location, and duration of the present verrucas.
The cost of treatment is £55 for one ampule. If more than one ampule is needed, £10 per extra ampule will be charged. This treatment will be repeated every 2 weeks in the clinic, and surgical spirit is supplied on the first appointment.
Nail Reconstruction (£30):
Nail reconstruction is both a cosmetic and medical procedure.
The gel is layered directly onto the nail bed and onto any remaining/present nail so that a brand new nail is created or on top of damaged and misshapen nails so that the visual appearance is more aesthetic.
The reconstruction is not permanent and usually lasts between 6-8 weeks, however, this does vary from person to person and how much natural nail is left. The gel used is flexible to allow the nail to move with natural movements of the toe, the gel also has anti-fungal properties, meaning that the fungal nails affected are being treated whilst the nail is worn. the nail reconstructed will not have any damage to it nor will the reconstruction restrict the growth of the natural nail
Discount if more than one nail is reconstructed.
This price is for recon only, if a foot health appointment is also needed this cost will be added on top of the appointment price.
