Effective Ways to Remove Warts and Prevent Them From Coming Back

Plantar warts are more than a cosmetic nuisance. They can be painful, stubborn, and frustrating to treat.

The good news? At NYC Foot & Ankle Center in the Manhattan Valley neighborhood of the Upper West Side, you have access to the most advanced wart removal technology available, including SWIFT® wart removal, a noninvasive treatment that gets to the root of the problem.

Here’s what you need to know about this effective wart removal method and the strategies you can take to stop warts from coming back.

What is SWIFT wart removal?

SWIFT wart removal uses targeted microwave energy to destroy the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes plantar warts. Unlike freezing treatments or over-the-counter acids, SWIFT works at the source. It eradicates the virus and stimulates your immune system to fight it off naturally. It’s:

• Noninvasive, without any cutting or injections into the wart itself
• Fast, with most sessions taking just 30–45 minutes
• Effective, since most warts require just one treatment
• Less painful compared to cryotherapy or acid treatments

On treatment day, you remove your shoes and socks, and your NYC Foot & Ankle Center provider cleans your feet. We administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. 

Then, we hold a small microwave probe against each wart and deliver a precise dose of energy — 8 gigahertz — to target the virus.

You can return to your normal activities right away, and most people notice their wart starting to shrink and disappear over the following weeks.

Is SWIFT the most effective way to remove a wart?

Traditional treatments for plantar warts, such as cryotherapy and salicylic acid, have cure rates ranging from 50%-70%, with recurrence rates between 20%-40%. Some studies show that cryotherapy may need to be repeated as many as 60 times! 

In contrast, SWIFT microwave therapy boasts a success rate close to 85% or higher and a recurrence rate of less than 1%.

Other wart removal options

Treatments that utilize microwave energy aren’t right for everyone. For example, microwave energy may interfere with pacemakers, so you might need to explore other options if you have a pacemaker.

While SWIFT is our most advanced option, traditional treatments can still be effective in these cases, including cryotherapy (freezing the wart), topical salicylic acid, prescription-strength topical medications, or even minor surgical removal.

Our team can help determine which method is best for your situation.

Prevention strategies to keep warts at bay

Even after successful treatment, HPV can be picked up again. To lower your risk:

• Keep your feet clean and dry
• Wear shower shoes in gyms, locker rooms, and public pools
• Never share socks, shoes, or towels
• Treat cuts or cracks in your feet promptly to reduce infection risk
• Wash all linens, socks, towels, and bath mats in hot water to prevent reinfection 

Wearing shower shoes in public spaces is especially important for athletes who frequently visit those areas. For example, close to 40% of swimmers experience plantar warts at some point.

When to seek podiatric care for plantar warts

Plantar warts can be stubborn, and over-the-counter treatments don’t always work. If you have pain, difficulty walking, or warts that keep coming back, it’s time to give us a call.