Expert: Sylvia de Rijke - 6/1/2008

Question
Hi there!  I had my toe nails operated on years ago as a teenager and now I have one with a nail but an ugly thick distorted nail and the other with no nail at all but a very rough thick tough bed in it's place.  I just tried for the first time having tips put on them and the one where the ugly nail remained, is doing fine but of course the one where there is no nail is already getting loose.  What can I do for successful results on that toe as well as the other toe?  I am sick off having to wear closed toe shoes year round and being ashamed to even go to the pool or the beach.  Thanks so much for your help!  Oh, I live in the Knoxville, TN area in case you know of anyone you can refer me to that specializes in this kind of stuff.

Answer
Hi Tammy,

Sorry for my late answer. I think that if you use a regular glue for your nail with the tough nail bed the tip will come off for sure. When the tough bed would be tough enough to hold a tip there is special "jelly" glue for ridged surfaces called Building Resin (EzFlow and I believe Super Nail and IBD have this one as well) The jelly will fill up the ridges on the surface and will form a stronger connection between the tip and the surface. In case there is no chance for the tough bed to damage you can try that option. If that does not work I suggest you to see a doctor who could maybe do something about it (plastic surgery) The    
glue is surgeon tested so safe to use on any surface,

Hope you will succeed soon and sit comfortably around the pool the whole day!!