necessary using either a soft file or drill bur if the surgeon judges the new nail to be sufficient corresponding to an acceptable level relative to the end of the toe the sealing agent is then applied see fig1 and cured for two minutes with ultraviolet lamp see fig1 upon completion of this step additional fine remodeling can be performed nail polish at the discretion of the patient can be applied almost immediately the materials of which the artificial nail is comprised are all fda approved and have been used in the united states and other countries for some time medical grade polypropylene is used in among other areas hernia repair vascular surgery etc only a known allergy to polypropylene the chemicals which comprise keryflex an open digital growth center or any condition which would contraindicate the permanent removal of a digital nail and or matrix would otherwise disqualify one 39 s ability to undergo this procedure and treatment in the kit is the actual replacement polypropylene mesh see fig3 fig5 illustrates an artificial nail which is constructed as a layer of the resin material on the top of the collagen mesh on the underside as a cohering layer 24 see fig4 for side view this collagen mesh 24 extends distally to approximately 0 5 cm to the free edge 23 of the nail and can be made longer if desired for.