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Laser Wart Removal
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Is laser wart removal a surgical procedure?
Laser wart treatments are totally non-invasive. Patients are able to walk out after a brief rest period following the procedure.
What results can I expect from laser wart treatments?
Lasers provide new hope for the removal of a wide range of warts that are resistant to traditional therapies, without presenting a high risk of scarring. Typically, more than two thirds of warts caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) can be cleared using laser therapy.
Does the procedure hurt?
To remove the wart, the laser energy is focused directly on the wart tissue. The majority of laser light bypasses the upper layers, or epidermis of the skin, and concentrates on the tiny blood vessels that feed the wart near the dermis, or inner layers, of the skin.
You may feel a slight stinging sensation during the laser treatment, similar to bacon grease sprinkled onto your skin. If needed, topical or local anesthesia can be administered, but this is usually unnecessary.
What happens after treatment?
Immediately after laser exposure, the treated area turns a bit bluish and swells slightly. Over the next several days, the area will heal and the skin texture and tone will return to normal.
How long does it take?
Depending on the number, size, and location of the warts, a typical treatment session runs from 10 to 30 minutes. The number of treatments required varies from case to case. Simple warts may require only one or two treatments, while deeper or more resistant warts may require additional sessions. We will discuss how many treatments your particular case may involve.
Is it safe?
Lasers have been used successfully for thousands of treatments worldwide. Because only light interacts with your skin, there is no risk of a reaction from chemical agents. Compared to the alternatives, the risk of scarring with the lasers is all but absent.
What are the alternative treatments?
Chemical agents, liquid nitrogen, and electrodesiccation are common therapies for the removal of warts. Though usually effective, none work in every case. Recurrence of the wart is often a problem, and skin color changes from the therapy are common.
Carbon dioxide lasers are often used to remove warts, but this treatment method also removes much of the surrounding tissue and generally results in scarring.
Laser treatments, on the other hand, target the small blood vessels that feed the wart, effectively cutting off the wart's lifeline.
We Can Help
The podiatrists at Northwest Surgical Specialists are leaders in the use of medical lasers to non-invasively and painlessly remove warts.
For additional information, please contact one of our three convenient locations to arrange a free initial consultation.
3100 W. Higgins Rd., Ste. 150
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
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Foot & Ankle Care
Pain Management
Physical Therapy
Therapeutic Massage
Skin Care
Surgical Care Center
431 Summit Street, Suite 102
Elgin, IL 60120
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Foot & Ankle Care
Physical Therapy