For decades, Simon Mills lived with severely infected, discolored, and thickened toenails that caused him significant embarrassment. The condition, which he describes as looking like an animal's claws, led to his toenails being called 'prehensile' by a colleague and earned him nicknames like 'Shrek toes' from his family.

The infection likely began after repeated trauma from playing five-a-side football combined with a habit of going sockless in leather shoes. The damaged nails became susceptible to the fungi that cause athlete's foot, leading to nails that turned black, then yellow, and often detached.

Mills tried various topical treatments, including expensive solutions and even flesh-colored nail varnish to hide the problem, but none proved effective. Cutting the nails became a struggle, with clippers breaking under the strain.

Seeking a Solution

After years of hiding his feet, Mills decided to seek professional help. He visited Marion Yau at the Harley Medical Foot and Laser Clinic, where he learned his condition was more complex than a simple fungal infection. His big toenails had severe fungal infections, trauma-induced discoloration, and onycholysis – the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Yau determined that laser treatments alone would not suffice and that surgical removal of the nails was necessary to address scar tissue and encourage healthy growth.

The Treatment Process

Despite initial apprehension, Mills underwent the procedure, which involved local anesthetic, forceps, an elevator implement, and a surgical blade. While he opted not to watch, he reported that the process was not as painful as he had feared, with only minor discomfort during deep scraping. Following the removal, large dressings were applied, and Mills was sent home to manage the recovery.

Recovery and Long-Term Care

Yau emphasized the importance of cleanliness during the recovery period, which involved daily washing, cleaning, and redressing of the toes, along with fresh socks and clean shoes. Mills returned for four follow-up appointments where his toes were treated with the Lunula Laser. This laser uses violet and red light wavelengths to kill remaining fungi and stimulate new nail growth without damaging surrounding tissue.

Mills noted that after about six to eight weeks, new, healthy, pale pink nails began to emerge. He described the outcome as finally having 'almost-presentable, Birkenstock-worthy, post-hensile toes,' after a 30-year ordeal of shame and embarrassment.