If you’ve been dealing with a persistent wart that refuses to respond to over-the-counter or home remedies, you may be struggling with pain and embarrassment. You’re not alone—many people struggle with the impact of stubborn warts on their quality of life. Fortunately, advanced treatment options are available.
Dr. Craig H. Thomajan, DPM, FACFAS, FAENS, and the team at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists are dedicated to providing the most effective solutions for warts and other foot issues. With cutting-edge technology like Swift therapy, warts can become a thing of the past—no more frustration with ineffective home remedies or traditional in-office treatments.
Keep reading to learn more about how Swift therapy stacks up against other wart treatments and why it may be the solution you've been hoping for to restore clear, healthy skin.
Traditional Wart Treatment Options
For many years, podiatrists and dermatologists have relied on a few main methods to treat warts:
- Cryotherapy (Freezing). Liquid nitrogen is applied to the wart, causing a blister to form around it. After repeated treatments, the dead wart falls off. While often effective, cryotherapy can be quite painful and may lead to scarring.
- Salicylic Acid. This keratolytic medication is applied to gradually peel off the wart. It requires consistent daily use and can take several weeks to fully remove the wart. Salicylic acid can cause skin irritation and isn't recommended for people with diabetes or poor circulation.
- Electrocautery. After numbing the area, the podiatrist uses an electric needle to burn off the wart tissue. This procedure can be painful and often leaves a scar. Multiple treatments may be needed.
- Surgical Excision. For deep plantar warts, the podiatrist may cut out the wart. This requires stitches and several weeks of healing time. Surgical excision leaves a scar and carries a risk of infection.
While these traditional plantar wart therapies can work, they have some notable drawbacks like discomfort, scarring, and long treatment times. They also only address the wart itself, not the underlying virus that causes them. That means warts can reappear in the future.
The Advantages of Swift Therapy for Warts
Compared to traditional wart treatments, Swift therapy offers a more advanced solution. It uses microwave energy to stimulate the body's immune response against the HPV virus responsible for warts. Swift provides several key benefits:
- Quick, virtually pain-free treatments
- No breaking of the skin surface or scarring
- No need for bandages or downtime
- Enhanced immune response helps prevent future warts
By addressing the root cause of warts (the HPV virus), Swift gives you a better chance at achieving long-lasting clear skin. It's a smart choice for finally getting rid of stubborn warts.
What to Expect During Swift Wart Treatment
Swift therapy is a simple in-office procedure that only takes minutes. Here's a quick overview of the process:
- Your Austin podiatrist will evaluate your wart to determine if Swift is right for you. The wart area is then cleaned.
- A small probe is applied to deliver low-powered microwave energy to the wart. You'll feel a warming sensation during the 2-second energy bursts. No anesthetic is needed.
- After your 5-to-10-minute treatment, you're can resume normal activities right away. You may have mild tenderness in the treated area for a day or so.
For best results, the wart is usually treated three or four times, with each procedure spaced roughly a month apart. This gives the immune system time to mount a response against the HPV virus. With each treatment, the wart gradually disappears and is replaced by healthy skin.
Your podiatrist at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists can answer your questions about Swift treatment and help determine if it’s right for you.
Recovering After Swift Wart Treatment
One of the major advantages of Swift therapy is the minimal post-op downtime required. Unlike traditional wart treatments that may leave wounds requiring daily care, Swift doesn't break the skin surface. That means you can get back to your regular routine right away.
After your Swift treatment, you can expect:
- Mild Tenderness. It's normal for the treated area to feel slightly tender for a day or two. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help if needed.
- No Wound Care. Since Swift therapy doesn't cause any blisters or open wounds, so no special bandages or cleaning are needed. You can wash the area gently as usual.
- Gradual Improvement. The wart will not immediately disappear after a single Swift treatment. Most warts respond best to a series of 3-4 treatments spaced a month apart. After each treatment, you may notice the wart gradually getting smaller as healthy skin replaces it.
- Immune Activation. Swift's microwave energy activates your body's immune cells to attack the HPV virus. This immune response continues for months after treatment, working to eliminate the virus and prevent wart recurrence.
- Follow-Up Visits. Your podiatrist will likely want to see you back about a month after your Swift treatment to check your progress and administer another treatment. Sticking to your follow-up appointments will give you the best results.
With each Swift treatment, your wart will gradually improve, restoring smooth, clear skin. Best of all, you'll be able to continue your normal activities without interruption as your body's immune system does the work of fighting off the wart virus.
Choose Swift Wart Therapy for More Effective Treatment
Warts can be a stubborn, frustrating problem that greatly impacts your comfort and self-confidence. While traditional treatments like cryotherapy, salicylic acid, electrocautery, and excision can be effective, they often come with drawbacks like pain, scarring, and potential recurrence.
Swift therapy could be the perfect solution for stubborn warts. Compared to traditional treatments, it offers key advantages:
- Proven results in clinical studies
- Less pain and scarring than freezing or burning
- An activated immune system to combat the wart virus
- Fast in-office treatments with no restrictions afterward
When you choose Swift treatment for plantar warts from an experienced Austin podiatrist, you're making a smart choice for clear, healthy skin. Say goodbye to the embarrassment and discomfort of warts!
If you're ready to get rid of bothersome warts once and for all, ask your Austin podiatrist if Swift therapy is right for you. This advanced treatment can help you finally enjoy the clear, healthy skin you deserve.
