Wart removal is a popular procedure in modern clinics.Its essence is to extract pathological cells from healthy tissues.Methods for removing warts are varied, and the choice depends on several factors: the size of the tumor, its location, the number of growths, and the personal preferences of the doctor and the patient.
Today, the most popular methods for removing warts are:
- Laser;
- Radio wave;
- Removal with liquid nitrogen;
- Electrocoagulation;
- Traditional surgery.
The use of one or another method of removing warts (cryodestruction, electrocoagulation, laser exposure, surgical excision) depends on the size of the formation and the patient’s personal preferences.
All methods, except surgical, do not require special preparation.Blood tests for clotting, infections, etc. are only necessary before excision of the wart with a scalpel.
Laser removal of warts
Laser removal is the most popular way to get rid of skin tumors.Its advantage is speed, absence of scars, minimal risk of infection and other complications.The method is suitable for removing small warts, although it is also used for large tumors.For example, it is difficult to do without a laser when you need to remove a wart on the face or other open area of the body.Healthy tissues are not affected during laser destruction of warts.There are no incisions made on the skin, the method is completely non-contact.
The laser beam gently cauterizes the blood vessels surrounding the wart.Bacteria are killed during the procedure.Recovery takes no more than a week.Swelling, bleeding, infection and other complications are excluded.If necessary, the warts remaining after tissue removal can be sent for histology, since they are not completely destroyed.
The procedure is simple and anesthesia may be used.The patient is placed on a couch and the laser device is aimed at the wart.After this, a beam is fired, which evaporates part of the tumor tissue in a split second.After a few seconds of such exposure, the procedure ends, but if the wart is very large, it has to be removed in several stages.This is the main drawback - if a course of procedures is necessary, the patient spends a lot of personal time and pays for several sessions.
Removal of warts using the radio wave method
This is the most gentle technique and is also best suited for small warts.High-frequency waves make it possible to remove pathological tissues by literally evaporating them, which makes this method similar to laser destruction.The mark left on the skin is practically invisible, so the use of radio waves is possible even on the face.
The advantages of this method also include:
- Painless;
- Fast recovery;
- Minimum complications and side effects;
- Elimination of bacteria during the procedure;
- No need for complex care;
- Possibility of histological analysis.
The downside is that radio wave surgery is not suitable for particularly large warts.
Removing warts with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction is a contact method for removing warts.Its advantages are its low price, speed of procedure, and good results.The method is suitable for removal in any area of the body, but is rarely used when working with the face - small marks are possible.On the negative side: sometimes there is pain during and after the procedure.
The removal process with liquid nitrogen is simple.The patient is placed or seated on a couch in the operating room, and the site of exposure is treated with an antiseptic.The doctor dips a cotton swab or special instrument into liquid nitrogen.Its temperature is below −195.75°C.After this, the doctor brings the stick to the wart and touches it.Tissues quickly freeze and collapse - cells rupture due to the expansion of frozen water.Remaining tissue is removed and the wound is treated.
Electrocoagulation of warts
This method is also suitable for most areas of the body, including the face.Before the operation, it is necessary to use local anesthesia and treat the skin with an antiseptic.Removal is carried out using an electrocoagulator - a special device that heats tissue with high-frequency electric current.The loop of the device touches the tumor and gently cuts it off, while simultaneously cauterizing the surrounding blood vessels and destroying bacteria.Loop temperature 800°C.After exposure, a thin crust forms, which falls off within a few days, leaving behind a small pink spot.
The advantages of the procedure are the small amount of time required, the ability to remove several warts in one session (if they are located close to each other), and large warts can be removed.During and after the operation, bleeding and infection are excluded.When removing small warts, no traces are left.
The downside is that it cannot be used for plantar warts.They are very rough and localized in a too dense layer of skin.In such situations, more intense types of influence are used.
Surgical removal of warts
Today, this is the most effective way to remove warts, as it guarantees the elimination of all pathological tissue.However, it is used only in extreme cases, when the warts are very large or constantly recur.
5 stages of operation:
- Treatment of the area with an antiseptic solution;
- Careful incisions with a scalpel around the tumor;
- Removing his body with tweezers from surrounding healthy tissues;
- Treatment of the surgical wound;
- Applying sutures and bandages.
The infrequent use of this method is due to the scars that remain after suturing.In addition, there remains a risk of infection, inflammation, swelling, and bleeding in case of extensive postoperative wounds.However, for large, old warts, this is the only way to get rid of them.In case of urgent need, surgical removal is performed even on the face.
A dermatologist and surgeon will help you choose a method for removing warts at a preliminary consultation.Most often the choice is:
- For small warts on the face and other parts of the body - laser, electrocoagulation, cryodestructive, radio wave removal;
- For especially large warts on the face and body, plantar warts - surgical, laser, radio wave;
- For multiples not on the sole - laser;radio wave, removal with liquid nitrogen;
- For small plantars - laser.
Sometimes the choice depends on the patient’s general health, age and even type of activity (for some professions, the presence of scars on the face or neck is unacceptable).In the latter case, only expensive laser removal is possible.In other situations, an individual approach is used.