Warts are harder to treat in certain cases. Suppose you’re wondering why. That’s generally because they may persist even after trying over-the-counter treatments and home remedies. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and they can pop up anywhere on your body and can be especially painful if they occur on the feet or hands.
Surgical wart removal may be needed when warts become hard to treat if they’re large or deeply embedded. Unlike most treatments, which target smaller, superficial warts, surgical removal is a more direct way of getting rid of the wart once and for all. Surgical methods, such as cutting, freezing, burning, or laser removal, are very effective for the warts that are frustrating you to heal.
Surgical wart removal is a safe and proven solution, but knowing when the time is right for you is also important. Stick around to know why warts might require surgery to remove them, how the procedure is done, and what to expect during and after surgery. If you are tired of fighting stubborn warts, this guide will tell you what surgical wart removal options are available.
When Is Surgical Wart Removal Needed?
We all know that warts can get even more frustrating when they don’t go away with the usual treatment. Many warts can be treated with over-the-counter medications or home remedies, but there are some situations in which surgical wart removal becomes necessary. Let’s dive right into surgical wart removal.
- Surgical options: When your wart has been around for months or even years despite several attempts at treatment, then it may be time to consider surgical options. However, not all warts are tough to eliminate; some can be stubborn and resistant to over-the-counter remedies. When these cases are treated surgically, surgical wart removal can be more effective, as the surgical removal of wart tissue removes the wart tissue completely.
- Painful warts, especially plantar warts on the soles of the feet or warts on your hands, can make it hard to do routine things because they hurt. Over time, these warts can become more painful and interfere with walking, gripping, or other normal functions. The relief from the discomfort is available by surgical removal of the wart.
- Some warts are large, deep into the skin, or larger than usual. Topical medications won’t work well on larger warts; some can spread. Surgical removal may be the best solution when an infection or other underlying issue causes a wart because it goes straight to the root of the problem and removes the wart altogether, stopping it from returning and growing.
- If warts are in a highly visible area, like the face or genital area, they may need to be removed to keep the area aesthetically pleasing. Surgical removal can be precise and produce a better cosmetic result because these areas may be harder to treat using traditional methods.
- Recurrent Warts Some people develop recurrent warts, which come back after treatment. If the wart is not eradicated with normal treatment, surgical removal may be recommended to reduce the chance of it returning.
In short, surgical wart removal is usually necessary if over-the-counter treatments don’t work, if they are painful or large, if they are in sensitive areas, or if they keep recurring. If any of these situations sound like you, you may think it is time to consider surgical options for a more permanent solution.
Surgical Wart Removal Methods
Surgical wart removal has a variety of methods. The best technique for you depends on your wart’s type, size, and location, how healthy you are overall, and whether you have other health problems. Below are the most common surgical methods used for wart removal:
- Surgical Wart Removal With Excision
The most straightforward surgical method for the removal of a wart is excision. In this procedure, the wart is cut out of the skin with a scalpel. The surrounding skin may also be removed to remove the whole wart. This is a particularly good way to treat deeply rooted or large warts. The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia, meaning you won’t be in pain when it is done.
Pros:
- Great for deep or large warts.
- It removes the wart immediately.
- Rarely results in recurrence.
Cons:
- If the wart is deep, it can leave a scar.
- Risk of infection or bleeding.
2. Surgical Wart Removal With Electrosurgery
Electrosurgery uses electric current to burn away wart tissue. The treatment involves a specialized device that produces heat to kill the wart down to its root. This kind of surgical wart removal is often used for warts that are hard to treat or resist other treatments. Heat also helps stop bleeding during the procedure.
Pros:
- Fast and effective for larger warts.
- It minimizes the bleeding during the procedure.
Cons:
- Post-procedure, there may be some discomfort.
- Especially for deeper warts, scarring may occur.
3. Targeted Surgical Laser Removal
In laser surgery, a focused beam of light vaporizes the wart tissue. The laser then targets the blood vessels supporting the wart, cutting off the blood supply, killing it, and causing it to fall off. This procedure is commonly used for warts that do not want to heal or are located on the face or genitals.
Pros:
- Good for hard-to-reach warts and is accurate and effective.
- Less risk of a scar than excision.
- It is minimally invasive with quick recovery.
Cons:
- More expensive than other methods.
- For larger warts, you may need one or more sessions.
4. Freezing the Wart
Cryotherapy or cryosurgery refers to the freezing of warts with liquid nitrogen. Freezing and damaging the cells in the wart tissue with extreme cold kills the wart. This is often used for smaller warts and is common for plantar warts.
Pros:
- Used for small and medium-sized warts.
- Fewer side effects and more recovery time.
- Usually completed in one sitting.
Cons:
- It may result in temporary pain, blistering, or redness.
- Larger or stubborn warts will often require several treatments.
5. Shave Excision
A shaved excision is like an excision; only the top part of the wart is shaved off. This method is usually used for smaller warts that haven’t become too deep in the skin. The whole procedure takes a few minutes and usually requires only local anesthesia.
Pros:
- Quick and minimally invasive.
- Little to no downtime.
Cons:
- Not suitable for deep or large warts
- This leaves the wart root behind, which can recur.
Of course, each surgical wart removal method has benefits and considerations, and the best choice for you will depend on your situation. A healthcare provider can advise you on which option best suits your wart, depending on its location and type.
Surgical Wart Removal Benefits
Surgical wart removal is advantageous when warts are persistent, painful, or large. Although surgery is more reliable and long-lasting in difficult-to-treat cases, non-surgical methods are quite effective for minor warts. Here’s a closer look at the key benefits of choosing surgical wart removal.
1. Effective for Stubborn Warts
One of the biggest advantages of surgical wart removal is that it is a last resort for warts that don’t respond to other treatments. Smaller warts might be treated with over-the-counter medications or cryotherapy, but larger, deeper, or longer-lasting warts require surgery. Surgical methods are the most effective because they remove the wart from its root, greatly reducing the risk of recurrence.
2. Quick and Permanent Results
Surgical wart removal differs from treatments that are not permanent and may not provide results for several weeks. After the wart is removed, the wart should not return unless you have a deeper treatment like excision or laser surgery. Surgery is often the best choice for those who want fast and lasting relief from stubborn warts.
3. Precision and Control
High precision is available through surgical methods such as laser and excision. It’s especially important for warts in sensitive or visible areas, such as the face or genitals, where precision is required to keep damaged healthy tissue from wrapping into warts. Surgery would remove the wart completely, with little chance they’d grow back.
4. Relief from Pain or Discomfort.
Plantar warts on the feet can cause such pain that it is particularly difficult to walk on or stand on. The treatment for these cases is often the removal of the virus surgically to relieve pressure and discomfort caused by the wart. The pain can be removed completely, and patients can regain comfort and prevent the pain from returning.
5. Minimal Risk of Recurrence
There’s no treatment method that is 100% foolproof, but surgical wart removal has a lower risk of recurrence than some non-surgical methods. Thorough removal of the wart greatly reduces the chance of it returning and can bring long-term peace of mind.
Side Effects and Risks of Surgical Wart Removal
If there’s anything to be aware of, while surgical wart removal has its benefits, it must also be known that it may have consequences, potential risks, and side effects. While the risk of complications is low, knowing what they are will help you decide whether surgery is the right choice for you. Here are the key risks and side effects to consider:
1. Scarring
The most common concern after surgical wart removal is scarring. Depending on how the wart was removed, a scar may form where it was removed by excision or electrosurgery. However, scarring is usually minor, although it may be more noticeable in some cases if the wart is deep or large. Both laser surgery and cryotherapy usually leave minimal scarring, but it’s something to remember, especially when a wart is on a visible area, like the face.
2. Infection
As with any surgical procedure, wart removal involves a risk of infection. If the site isn’t cleaned and cared for properly during recovery, bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection. Redness, swelling, increased pain, or a little pus around the removal site are signs of infection. The only way to minimize this risk is to follow aftercare instructions strictly.
3. Bleeding
Surgical wart removal is usually not too bloody and certainly not as bloody as can be achieved with electrosurgical or laser treatment methods intended to clasp blood vessels during the procedure. But, you may bleed after surgery, in some cases, especially with excision. Following the procedure, it’s best to avoid activity and excessive bleeding.
4. Pain is best Discomfort
Surgical removal of warts is usually done under local anesthesia; however, you can experience some pain during the healing process. Pain is often mild and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. But if the pain is severe or does not go away, see your healthcare provider. Common are swelling and tenderness around the treated area, which usually subsides in a few days.
5. Risk of Recurrence
Surgical removal is very effective, but there is still a small chance that the wart will return, especially if it wasn’t completely removed or if HPV (the virus that causes warts) is still present in the skin. However, unlike non-surgical treatments, the risk of recurrence is lower with excision or laser surgery.
6. Nerve Damage
Warts may be irritating, but they can be persistent and stubborn, and they may persist even after trying over-the-counter treatments and home remedies. But these growths, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can pop up anywhere on your body and can be especially painful if they occur on the feet or hands.
Surgical wart removal may be needed when warts become persistent, large, or deeply embedded. Unlike most treatments, which target smaller, superficial warts, surgical removal is a more direct way of getting rid of the wart once and for all. Surgical methods, such as cutting, freezing, burning,g or laser removal, are very effective for warts that will not budge.
Reducing Risk by Choosing Revitalize London for Surgical Wart Removal
You can surgically remove stubborn warts, but this carries the risk of infection, scarring,g, and recurrence. By choosing Revitalize London for surgical wart removal, we greatly reduce the risks due to our expert care, advanced technology, and personalized approach. Here’s how we make surgical wart removal a safer and more effective experience:
1. Skilled Care in the Hands of Expert Care by Skilled Specialists.
The skill of the medical team plays the biggest role in successful surgical wart removal. Our specialists have extensive experience performing surgical procedures for wart removal at Revitalize London.
2. Cutting-Edge Technology
Using advanced tools and techniques, surgical wart removal is as precise and safe as possible. We use the latest equipment to minimize scarring and discomfort while effectively targeting your warts, ensuring they are fast and have the best results.
3. Rigorous Hygiene Standards
Surgical wart removal poses surgical risks in terms of infections. We operate in a sterile environment at Revitalize London under strict hygiene protocols. Our clinic is very clean. All equipment is cleaned thoroughly and does not contain any infection risks.
4. Aftercare program for a comfortable recovery
Aftercare is necessary to keep complications such as scarring or infection from occurring. As a part of Revitalize London, we offer tailored aftercare plans to every client with surgical wart removal. Our recovery advice works to keep every aspect of your recovery as stress-free as possible with cleaning instructions, advice on managing pain, and more.
5. Risk Assessment Based Thorough Consultations
Detailed consultation is vital before the procedure to determine potential risks to surgical wart removal. Our specialists review your medical history, skin type, and particular problems. Doing so means surgical wart removal is the right option for you, and we can design a plan that meets your needs.
6. Long-term Results via Follow Up Support
The recurrence of warts can be very frustrating, but our extensive follow-up considerably reduces the recurrence risk. We monitor your progress after surgical wart removal at Revitalize London, providing further treatment to prevent potential regrowth. That means your skin stays clear and healthy with this long-term support.
As a patient, you can enjoy expert care, state-of-the-art technology, and a personalized approach. Revitalize London is the surgery of choice for surgical wart removal, with a risk reduction of up to 19 times. We can guarantee that we will provide you with a safe and effective remedy for your wart issue that is comfortable and satisfying.