Swift Microwave Therapy for Those in Belconnen, Canberra and Surrounds

Plantar warts are small, rough lesions on the bottoms of your feet, often with callous grown over the top. They often have little black dots in the center which are small blood capillaries. Warts can be painful to walk on and can feel like standing on a pebble or small object, particularly if the wart is on a high weight-bearing area (e.g. the heel or ball of the foot).

Normally, the immune system detects the virus and releases antibodies to fight it. However, HPV proteins do not release viral proteins to circulating cells which makes it hard for the immune system to detect and fight off. Those who are immunosuppressed (older age, diabetics, pregnancy, peripheral arterial disease) will find it harder to get rid of a wart due to a less active immune system.

The number of treatments you will need depends on how well you respond. Most people require up to 3 treatments, spread 1 month apart. A follow up is usually conducted 3 months after the last treatment to ensure your warts have resolved. An additional treatment may be required.

Your podiatrist will identify any warts and assess if you are a suitable candidate for Swift wart therapy. You should stop using home wart remedies approximately one week before treatment. Excessive thick skin covering the wart may be removed. Swift microwave therapy will then be applied to the surface of the wart in short, two second bursts. It is unlikely you will see any significant changes in the wart immediately after treatment. It may take weeks to a month to notice changes in its appearance.

Treatment is only administered in multiple applications for two second bursts. You may experience discomfort as the wart will be heated up to 42-45°C for a brief period. This temperature range is not enough to cause any serious tissue damage or scarring. Any discomfort should subside after the probe leaves the skin. After treatment, the area may feel sore but should not stop you from doing normal activities. The area should not require any dressing or re-dressing at home.

This is again dependent on many factors. On average it takes 80 days for the wart to resolve, but it is hard to determine exactly how quickly your immune system will respond to treatment. The time it takes for your wart to resolve is dependent on your age, overall health, how long you have had the wart for, and the type of HPV infection you have.

You may not see any major changes in the wart immediately after treatment. It can take a week or months before noticing any transformation. The wart may start to look larger or small black dots can appear after treatment. This is a good sign that the wart is responding to treatment – it resolves from the base of the lesion and not the surface. It is normal for warts to look worse before they start to get better.

Yes, any discomfort you feel should not last after your appointment. It is safe to weight-bear on the area or get the area wet as no dressings are required after treatment. In some cases, a small, superficial blister may appear. Please contact your podiatrist if this happens.