Removing warts surgically: how does it work?

The reception is conducted by:

Antipenko Vyacheslav Vladimirovich -

Surgeon

Make an appointment

A spinule, or plantar wart, is a benign formation on the skin of the plantar surface of the foot of infectious origin. The disease develops when infected with virus types 1 or 57 and some other strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Due to the tendency for deep growth (inside soft tissues), the risk of spreading infection and the significant impact on the patient’s quality of life, the disease requires treatment, which includes therapeutic and radical measures (wart removal). Laser removal of the spine is recognized as the most modern, safe and effective method of treatment.

You can remove a plantar wart with a laser in St. Petersburg at a medical clinic. The manipulation is carried out by certified doctors using laser equipment that can be customized. Modern technologies, extensive experience of specialists and the use of local anesthesia make it possible to painlessly get rid of the spine in a few minutes.

What is a plantar wart?

A spine is a nodular growth located in the thickness of the skin of the feet. The surface of the formation is partially covered with a layer of keratinized epidermis and protrudes slightly above the plane of the foot. A plantar wart looks like a lump on the skin with a diameter of 1-2 cm, dirty gray or gray-yellow in color with a depression in the center. The root part penetrates into the deep layers of the dermis. When steaming and removing the surface layer of skin, black or brown dots may be visible, which are formed as a result of thrombosis of the capillaries.

Plantar warts form in areas of increased pressure, so they are often confused with corns. A characteristic feature of the spine is painlessness with direct pressure and the presence of a crater-shaped depression. Plantar warts are usually single. With serious immunity disorders, daughter formations may occur, and several warts may merge to form a growth on the skin, similar to the head of a cauliflower.

When to seek help

Often people try to get rid of growth using traditional methods. For example, they try to remove a wart by applying celandine to it. And only when attempts fail do they go to the clinic. Medical assistance will be needed if:

• The spine causes discomfort, it becomes painful to walk;
• The wart increases in size, or their number increases.

Causes of plantar warts

Pimples occur when infected with the human papillomavirus. The infection is transmitted from other people through contact with skin particles that peel off in the affected area. The virus uses small lesions on the skin of the feet (cuts, scratches, cracks) as an “entry gate”. Most often, infection occurs in public places with a warm and humid environment, when personal hygiene rules are neglected. Factors predisposing to infection are:

• visiting a sauna, bathhouse, swimming pool;
• hyperhidrosis of the skin of the feet (excessive sweating);
• dry skin;
• foot deformities;
• wearing uncomfortable shoes;
• tissue trophic disorders.

Diagnosis of plantar wart

The disease is diagnosed by a dermatologist. The diagnosis can be established at the initial consultation during an objective examination and dermatoscopy. Symptoms characteristic of a plantar wart are:

• pain when squeezed from the sides;
• no signs of inflammation of surrounding tissues;
• lack of skin pattern when scraping the top layer;
• symptom of thrombosed capillaries.

If deep germination of the formation is suspected, an ultrasound scan of the foot is performed. To determine the HPV strain, laboratory tests (PCR) are prescribed.

Removing thorns at home

To remove plantar warts, you can use pharmaceutical and folk remedies. With their help, spine treatment is successfully carried out at home.

Most often, dermatologists approve of such options when removing small and new skin growths. It is not too difficult to remove such formations, since the affected tissues have not yet had time to become very rough and deep into the epidermis.

Drug therapy

The arsenal of pharmaceutical products that allow you to treat spines is very diverse. It includes:

• Plasters;
• Solutions;
• Ointments;
• Cryopreparations;
• Medical pencil.

Medications are selected only by a doctor. Self-medication can lead to an increase in the size of the growth or the formation of daughter formations.

Solutions

Liquid pharmaceutical preparations help effectively remove spines. The principle of their action is based on burning out the affected cells of the abnormal growth. Doctors recommend using:

• Verrucacid;
• Solcoderm.

The composition of these solutions is very caustic. The main condition for their correct and safe use is strict adherence to the instructions.

The solution is applied to the spine with a cotton swab. To avoid burning healthy adjacent tissues, they should be treated with zinc ointment.

A stronger drug is Solcoderm. It consists of four acids and is sold in ampoules only with a doctor's prescription.

Important! If, after treating the spine with Solcoderm, there is any unused solution left, it should be poured out and washed off with running water. It is strictly prohibited to store an open drug or throw it away in an ampoule!

How is laser spine removal procedure performed?

Before removal, the patient is examined by a dermatologist. The doctor makes a diagnosis, assesses the location and depth of the wart, and determines the possibility of removal using low-traumatic procedures. Laser removal takes place in several stages:

1. Preparation. The affected area is disinfected and local anesthesia is performed.
2. Delete. The doctor sets up a laser device, affects the wart with a concentrated beam of light, removing pathological tissue layer by layer.
3. Completion of the procedure. The affected area is treated with an antiseptic, and the wound is covered with a sterile bandage.

Upon completion of the procedure, the patient talks with the doctor and receives recommendations for further care, after which he can return to his usual activities.

When is surgery contraindicated?

Removing warts using surgery has virtually no contraindications. The exception is inflammatory and infectious processes during exacerbation.

Doctors categorically prohibit removing such tumors on their own. Otherwise, you can provoke an infection of the body, as well as give impetus to the development of oncological processes.

Remember that various tumors on the skin can only be removed in a hospital setting.

Rehabilitation

After laser removal of a plantar wart, a wound remains in its place. In the first 1-3 days, bloody discharge is possible. Soon the wound becomes covered with a dry crust. The skin is completely restored in 10-14 days. If you follow the doctor's recommendations, there will be no scars.

On the first day after the procedure, it is advisable to reduce the load on the feet (refuse to play sports or stay in a standing position for long periods of time). Sterile dressings need to be changed when soiled. Until the tissue is completely restored, you should wear comfortable shoes, carefully maintain hygiene, eliminate the possibility of damage to the crust, and use medications prescribed by your doctor.

Contraindications

Elimination of plantar warts is not carried out in the following cases:

• Blood clotting disorder.
• Oncological pathologies.
• Infectious diseases.
• Pregnancy and lactation.

The doctor can prescribe the removal procedure only after consultation and examination of the patient. If contraindications for treatment have been identified, the manipulation is not performed.

Types of plantar warts

There are several types of spines:

• Viral. They are a direct consequence of weakened immunity and the effects of HPV on the body. They often form near the nails and between the fingers.
• Deep. Such warts grow inside the skin and therefore often cause great discomfort.
• Internal (subcutaneous). They are localized on the toes and often have a long incubation period. They grow deep into the epidermis, but are not always immediately visible on the surface.
• Flat. They usually do not protrude above the surface of the skin and have a flesh-colored or light pink tint. Most often appear in teenagers.
• Black. They often grow slowly but bleed.

Possible treatments

Several techniques can be used to eliminate spines today. Let's take a closer look at each of them:

• Cryodestruction. Plantar warts are removed using liquid nitrogen, the temperature of which reaches -196 degrees. The cells of the growth are destroyed and die, the work of local immunity is activated. The effectiveness of treatment of new tumors reaches 84%; in other cases, relapse is possible. Often a course of such procedures is necessary.
• Electrocoagulation. The build-up is destroyed under the influence of high-frequency current. The procedure is performed using local anesthesia. Since during manipulation the treatment area is exposed to high temperature, it is possible to coagulate the capillaries and avoid tissue infection. The technique is highly effective, but is only suitable for large tumors. There is also a risk of scarring.
• Laser coagulation. The most practical option today is to remove plantar warts with a laser. The effectiveness of treatment in this case reaches 99%. Using a laser beam, it is possible to “evaporate” damaged tissue layer by layer. The advantage of the technique is that simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels occurs, which avoids bleeding.
• Surgical removal. This technique is used only in rare cases when it is impossible to remove the tumor by other means. Local anesthesia is required, and the removal itself is performed using a scalpel. After excision, the risk of recurrence remains, and there is also a risk of scarring.

Features of procedures in our clinic

To remove plantar warts, our KallistoMed medical center most often uses laser techniques. This manipulation is highly safe and effective, does not require long-term rehabilitation, and also avoids tissue infection and relapses.

The procedure is carried out using the Alod-01 device - a surgical laser providing a wavelength of 940-980 and 1064 nm. Thanks to this, it is possible to adjust the necessary power for any part of the body, including the feet and toes. The device is highly effective and safe for the body; it does not cause burns or injure healthy skin.

If there are contraindications to the laser technique, our specialists select another method for the patient, for example, electrocoagulation and cryodestruction. If it is necessary to conduct a histological examination of tissue, surgical excision is prescribed.

Preparing for removal

At the initial appointment with a dermatologist, the patient is examined, a medical history is taken, and a diagnosis is made for the presence of warts. The size and location of growths, their shape, color and thickness are assessed. It is also necessary to find out how long ago the warts appeared and the rate of their development.

If the patient has no contraindications, then the tumors are removed on the same day.

Stages of laser treatment

On average, eliminating warts with a laser lasts no more than 15-20 minutes. The manipulation is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Cleansing the skin of impurities, treating with an antiseptic.
2. Performing local anesthesia (in case of high sensitivity).
3. Setting the device to the required power.
4. Steaming the plantar wart layer by layer.
5. Treatment of the resulting wound with special solutions.

Skin care after

After laser destruction, a wound remains on the skin, which becomes covered with a crust. It is under this crust that the healing process occurs, so it should never be torn off. To speed up your recovery, follow these recommendations:

• Avoid visiting the swimming pool, sauna and bathhouse for 2 weeks.
• Wear the most comfortable shoes possible and avoid damaging the tissues.
• Treat the wound with special healing agents.
• Get a medical pedicure periodically.

Your dermatologist will provide you with more detailed recommendations during your consultation, since care may vary depending on the location of the spines and their number.

We will be waiting for you for the procedure for removing plantar warts at our KallistoMed clinic in St. Petersburg. We carry out laser destruction, as well as cryodestruction and electrocoagulation of tissue. You can be sure that we will select the most appropriate treatment method, taking into account your individual characteristics and the stage of spine development.

We guarantee excellent results and painless treatment, you can get rid of unpleasant tumors once and for all and return to an active and healthy life. You can find out prices for services and current promotions by calling: 8 (812) 455-21-95.

Benefits of laser plantar wart removal

• Efficiency. The formation can be removed in one procedure.
• Minimum time spent. The manipulation takes from 5 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the spine.
• Good cosmetic effect. The wound heals, the surface of the skin gradually smoothes out, and no scars remain.
• Fast rehabilitation. The patient does not need to take sick leave. Temporary restrictions last only 1-3 days.
• Targeted impact. Using a laser, only pathological tissues are removed, while healthy ones remain undamaged.
• Minimum contraindications. The procedure is not performed only on pregnant, lactating, people with cancer pathologies, blood clotting disorders or inflammatory changes in the foot area.
• Safety. The laser disinfects tissues and coagulates small vessels, which minimizes the risk of complications.
• Painless. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, which eliminates discomfort.

To remove or not to remove warts?

Before answering this question, a specialist must conduct a differentiated diagnosis to rule out more serious pathological processes. If it really is a wart, then everything depends on the patient.

As a rule, removal is carried out at his request. For example, if the formation is in an invisible place and does not cause the patient much discomfort, then why remove it. There are situations when they dry up and fall off on their own.

There are indications when it must be removed immediately to prevent the development of serious complications.

So, if you notice the processes listed below, then this is a good reason to seek help from a qualified specialist:

• the color and shape of the neoplasm periodically changes;
• the wart does not have a uniform color;
• the number of warts has increased noticeably;
• sometimes blood discharge appears from the formations;
• pain;
• The location is on the external genitalia.

If you suspect that this is not a wart at all, then you should visit a dermatologist or oncodermatologist.