Is it effective to remove warts with a laser: the pros and cons of the procedure

From this article you will learn:

• How does laser removal of warts occur?
• What are the benefits of laser wart removal?
• What to choose: laser or nitrogen removal of warts
• How long does it take for a wart to heal after laser removal?
• What must be observed after removing a wart with a laser?
• What precautions does the wound require after laser removal of a wart?

There are several ways to remove warts. Most often, patients choose laser wart removal. The advantages are that it does not take much time and does not require long-term rehabilitation. In this article we will talk in more detail about the laser wart removal service.

How does laser removal of warts occur?

The most common skin disease is acne, followed by warts. Statistics say that 10% of people have the papilloma virus. The papillomavirus causes abnormal skin tissue, causing people to suffer from various diseases, ranging from warts to serious problems such as cervical cancer.

Warts come in different sizes: from 1 mm to 3 cm. They form on the mucous membranes, skin, and can be convex or flat. Once the virus has entered the human body, it cannot be removed and will remain for life. As soon as a person's immune system fails, a wart will appear.

Healthy people can easily become infected from carriers of the infection through shared objects, household appliances, or sexual contact. There is a high risk of infection on the beach, in the pool, sauna, bathhouse and other places where large numbers of people relax. The papillomavirus dies when exposed to sunlight, so the risk of infection in the evening and at night is significantly higher.

A person may not realize that he has become infected, even for several months, because signs of the disease appear only after 2-5 months. Not only a decrease in immunity provokes the appearance of warts, but also the following factors:

• Tight and uncomfortable, synthetic shoes.
• Sweaty feet.
• Metabolic disease.
• Endocrine pathology.
• Acrocyanosis of the limbs.
• Sudden hypothermia.
• Stress.
• Fungal and other infectious diseases.
• Insufficient hygiene.
• Lack of nutrients in the body.
• Casual sex.
• Failure to comply with the rules of asepsis and antiseptics during manicure and pedicure.

Laser removal of warts is carried out only after consultation with a dermatologist or cosmetologist. Wart cells are 75% water. Laser installations evaporate this liquid, due to which the neoplasm is removed. The removed material is subsequently subjected to histological analysis. During the procedure, one of various laser systems is used:

• CO2 laser - pathological tissues are destroyed, the liquid is evaporated using a laser beam. A CO2 laser emits infrared radiation with a wavelength of 10,600 mn. The disadvantage of this method is that after the procedure scars may remain on the patient's skin.
• The erbium laser is very similar to the CO2 laser, only it has a shorter wavelength - 2940 mn, and is twelve times more effective. Another advantage of this laser is that it is less traumatic to tissue.
• A pulsed dye laser leaves virtually no scars and does not cause discomfort to the patient during the procedure. Unlike CO2 laser and erbium laser, it has a selective effect on oxyhemoglobin, leading to the destruction of wart capillaries.

What are the advantages of laser removal

This treatment method is widely used only because it is proven. Unlike other treatment methods, laser surgery is reliable and rarely causes side effects. It is also the best option if medications and other treatments have failed.

Important! Health experts recommend this method for breastfeeding.

Another advantage of burning out papillomas is the absence of scars after the procedure. The chances of developing an infection are negligible.

How much does laser papillomas removal cost? In the past, the procedure was very expensive, but the cost of removal has decreased markedly over the past few years. This makes the procedure a generally accessible and practical option for the majority of the population. Today you can get high-quality burning for RUB 3,704. with additional care after surgery. Let's compare laser removal with other methods and find out what its advantage is.

Removing papillomas with laser or radio waves, which is better? Comparing the two methods, we highlight the advantages of the laser: high accuracy, short rehabilitation period, non-contact burning method, no theoretical risk of infection.

The radio wave removal method has the same advantages as the laser method. However, when removing using the second method, it is possible to study the remaining material. Only a doctor can decide which method is best for the patient after studying the medical history and contraindications to both methods.

Laser removal of papillomas or electrocoagulation, which is better? Experts highlight electrical burning of growths. Firstly, it is cheaper. Secondly, one procedure is enough, unlike laser removal. Also, laser coagulation cannot be used on dark skin.

What are the benefits of laser wart removal?

Removing warts with a laser is not the only way to get rid of tumors. There are radio waves, cryosurgery, electrocoagulation and other methods, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. But still, one of the most effective methods is laser, as it has the following advantages:

• There are no scars or rough scars left on the body.
• The doctor can control the depth of penetration of the laser beam.
• One session is enough to completely remove tumors.
• Fast healing after the procedure.
• Method sterility and safety.
• With the help of a laser, warts can be removed from any part of the body.

Types of formations

There are several types of warts.

Each type should be treated in different ways:

• Type: simple wart. Warts are simple - they are small in size, only up to 10 mm in diameter. Frequent places of their appearance are the head, face, hands. Such growths can be removed using a laser, but this should be done very carefully. To perform the procedure, you must carefully select a specialist, pay attention to patient reviews and work experience. Such tubercles have clearly defined boundaries, their color is the same as that of the skin or slightly darker. The growths have a rough surface. If several simple warts are located nearby, they can form a plaque. Such growths can be removed with liquid nitrogen;
• Warts on the soles of the feet. Warts called plantar warts form on the feet. They look like small papillae that are surrounded by keratinized tissue. They can be confused with calluses, but their surface is hard to the touch. Formations on the foot grow quite quickly, so at the first sign of a growth it is better to remove it;
• Small flat warts. Flat warts are the same color as the skin. The dimensions of such neoplasms are relatively small - only up to 5 mm. They have a fairly dense structure. They can form on the hands or face. Such warts do not need to be removed, as over time they can resolve on their own. Those who experience discomfort can remove the bumps with a laser or liquid nitrogen. The treatment area heals very quickly;
• A type of genital wart. Genital warts are a type of growths that appear most often on the genitals. If the patient has such growths, it is necessary to urgently see a doctor and remove the tumors. This type of wart quickly increases in size, which can lead to unforeseen consequences.

Video:

What to choose: laser or nitrogen removal of warts

The most popular methods for removing warts and other unwanted growths are laser and cryodestruction. If a person decides to remove the tumor, he needs to choose a method.

If the wart is in a visible place, such as on the face, then it is better to choose laser because it does not leave scars.

Nitrogen does not penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, so if you choose cryodestruction, there is a high probability that several procedures will be needed, especially if the tumor is large. Cryodestruction is cheaper than laser, but causes pain.

If you decide to undergo the procedure, consult a dermatologist about which method of wart removal to choose. Laser is more effective, but also more expensive. Cryodestruction is more affordable, but most likely it will take several sessions to completely get rid of the wart.

How laser surgery works

Experts recommend removing papillomas with laser or nitrogen, which can only be decided better by a doctor on an individual basis. These treatment methods have a great advantage over others; they are more in demand and effective.

Removing papillomas with a laser is very simple. Before using the laser beam, the patient is given local or general anesthesia. The type of beam and intensity depends on the size and number of papillomas. The larger the area covered by the growths, the more intense the laser application will be.

Small warts can be removed in one session. Laser removal of large growths can take up to 4 procedures. Several sessions will be required to get rid of warts on the hands and feet to achieve better results.

The laser pulse gets rid of the virus that causes papillomas and cuts off the blood flow that feeds the growth. In addition, this method of treatment increases the temperature in the vicinity of the growth, which helps to destroy and remove the virus.

Is it painful or not to remove papillomas with a modern laser? If burning of growths occurs without the use of anesthesia, it hurts. At the request of the patient, burning of a benign formation is performed using an anesthetic cream. There should be no pain.

Important! Laser removal of growths on intimate places (cervix) is painless. In other areas (penis, labia, anus) it is worth using local anesthesia.

There are few contraindications for laser removal. However, you should refrain from this treatment method if there are contraindications to its use. The procedure cannot be performed in case of ARVI, cancer, pregnancy, epilepsy, or diabetes.

How long does it take for a wart to heal after laser removal?

Removing a wart with a laser practically does not injure the skin, but in any case there is a burn that heals in three stages.

At the first stage , a scab is formed, that is, a crust that protects the wound from infection.

At the second stage, gradual healing of the wound under the crust occurs.

At the third stage , the scab is rejected and the skin is restored. Young skin, of course, will initially be lighter, that is, the site of the removed wart will be visible, but subsequently the color will become the same as that of nearby tissues.

To ensure that the wound does not become inflamed or fester after laser removal of a wart, you need to take care of it, so the healing process will go faster. The healing period depends on many factors, which are indicated in the table.

How to prevent scarring

Preventing the formation of scars after medical procedures is more effective than treating them. It is almost impossible to get rid of dense connective tissue using conservative methods. Peeling or laser resurfacing is used to eliminate old scars.

You can speed up healing after removing papilloma without causing skin defects. To do this, the doctor prescribes special means to treat the epidermis until complete recovery occurs.

One of the most popular means used for this purpose is Contractubex. The drug contains heparin, which has antithrombolytic properties. Active substances help accelerate tissue regeneration and eliminate inflammation. To achieve the desired effect, Contractubex must be applied to problem areas of the body 2-3 times a day.

If you cauterize the papilloma, you will be able to eliminate the external manifestations of the disease caused by HPV. Despite this, the papillomavirus remains in the patient’s body and can provoke new rashes. Therefore, even after successful treatment, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the skin and consult a doctor if any problems are identified..

Almost everyone knows about skin tumors, which include papillomas. They do not cause harm to health, but can result in aesthetic discomfort. Papillomas on the eyelid, face, neck and other open areas develop an inferiority complex. Therefore, people resort to removing them.

At home, fighting papillomas is not safe. Modern medicine offers services for non-surgical and hardware elimination of skin tumors. But the problems don't end there. After removal of the papilloma, the patient may develop lumps and scars. You also need to get rid of them.

What must be observed after removing a wart with a laser?

As a rule, you can wash yourself the next day, but it is still better to ask your doctor about this, because it all depends on the number of warts removed and the method of removal.

The following are rules that all patients must follow:

• After washing, the site of the former wart should not be dried with a towel.
• For two months it is forbidden to take baths, only showers are allowed, and no cosmetic product should come into contact with the wound. The site of the former wart should not be rubbed.
• After a shower, pat the wound dry with a paper towel or soft cloth.
• Solariums and swimming in public bodies of water are prohibited for two weeks after surgery.
• Baths and saunas are prohibited for two months.
• If the wart was in a place where hair grows, then hair can be removed only three weeks after the procedure.

Consequences and side effects

There is a big difference between the side effects and consequences of laser papillomas removal. Side effects are temporary and disappear 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Among them:

• swelling;
• redness;
• increased pain;
• temperature increase.

The consequences remain for a longer time. In this case, the consequences are scarring of papillomas, which can remain for life.

Laser removal is permanent; no recurrences have been observed after wart removal. But since papillomas are caused by viruses, there is a chance that new growths will appear in other areas of the body. For example, on the eyelid, arms, legs.

What precautions does the wound require after laser removal of a wart?

To prevent a scar or a scar after removing a wart with a laser, you should follow the recommendations listed below:

1. Do not cover the wound with a band-aid to prevent inflammation due to the penetration of bacteria. The wound will heal faster if there is constant access to air. Over time, the crust will fall off, and in its place a new layer of epithelium will form.
2. After removing the wart, treat the wound with brilliant green, healing ointments, potassium permanganate solution and other local disinfectants for three days. Chemicals and alcohol solutions are strictly prohibited.
3. Even if you accidentally scratched the wart removal site and the scab began to separate prematurely, do not completely rip it off. Take the furatsilin solution, soak the separated area with it and carefully cut it off.
4. The crust that has formed on the wound cannot be removed; it will fall off on its own.
5. Avoid exposing the wound to sunlight; use sunscreen before going outside.
6. If a wart has been removed in the intimate area, you can have sex only after the wound has completely healed. As a rule, this is one month.
7. It is better not to use cosmetics until the color of the skin on the wound evens out with the surrounding tissues.
8. If a month has passed since the wart was removed with a laser, and the wound has not healed, go to the doctor.
9. After the procedure, it is recommended to take a course of vitamins E, A, C to make the skin more elastic, strengthen the immune system and restore the regenerative properties of the skin.

What to expect after surgery

Laser removal of papillomas takes a short recovery period. After the procedure is completed, the areas where the warts were burned will hurt for several days. Typically, a hospital stay after surgery is not necessary.

After removing papilloma with a laser, the following consequences are possible:

• bleeding;
• temperature increase;
• strong pain.

If bleeding from a wound lasts more than 7 days, immediate help is needed. Consult a doctor if there are consequences after burning, such as yellowish discharge or an unpleasant odor from fluid leaking from the wound. Such signs indicate the presence of an infection that has entered the wound due to improper care.

Important! Do not clean the wound yourself. Contact the doctor who performed the operation.

How to care for a wound after burning

You will need to remove papilloma with a laser in any case if other methods have not helped. However, this procedure is not enough. To completely cure the virus, proper wound care is necessary.

When burning, the laser beam does not affect the surrounding tissue; it only affects the papilloma. In case of contact with skin, slight redness may occur, which will subside within 2–4 days. There's no need to worry about this.

How long does it take for a wound to heal? Usually the wound heals within 10 days. During this period, lubricate the wound daily with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, calendula tincture or wound-healing ointment.

Attention! Friction causes irritation; do not wipe the wound with a towel. It's better if it dries out on its own.

At first, 3 weeks after the burning procedure, it is not advisable to go to the solarium. Avoid public bodies of water (sea, lake, river). When going outside, cover the wound with a bactericidal plaster to prevent sunlight from entering.

If the papilloma was burned on the face or neck, when going outside, treat the wound with a special cream with a UV filter.

What consequences are possible after removing a wart with a laser?

Removing warts with a laser is a gentle procedure, but the following consequences are possible:

• If the wound is not treated properly, it will take a long time to heal.
• An infection may occur, causing inflammation.
• The formation of scars and cicatrices, disruption of epidermal pigmentation, that is, a dark or white area may remain at the site of the wart.
• If the patient's skin is very delicate, thermal injury may occur. It can also occur if a specialist has configured the instrument incorrectly.
• Allergy to photo exposure and anesthesia.

Warts - to treat or not to treat?

Often the patient has a question: is it worth treating a wart that appears on the body?

Warts do not need to be treated, since many types of such growths can go away on their own if a person’s immunity is strengthened and care for the growths is correct.

Of course, there are exceptions, so it is better to consult a doctor if growths appear.

Photo:

Before performing laser removal of warts on the feet, hands, face, and other parts of the body, it is important to know that this is a wart, and not some kind of skin disease.

Therefore, before the removal procedure, you should consult a dermatologist. There should be no cosmetics or medications on the tubercle.

Seeing a doctor is important in the following cases:

• the growth on the epidermis actively changes shape or shade;
• the color of the neoplasm is heterogeneous;
• the boundaries of the tubercle are vague - perhaps the growth is not a wart;
• the patient experiences pain or the growth is injured by clothing;
• the number of growths increases;
• the tubercle brings discomfort and itches;
• a neoplasm was noticed on the genitals.

It is necessary to consult a doctor if the tubercle interferes with normal life activities or spoils a person’s appearance.

Removing warts using a dental laser (video)

• Author: Julia
• Print

I decided to follow in the footsteps of my mother, who works in a rural clinic, and become a doctor. She graduated from school with a gold medal, was the best student, but when she came to the city to enter medical school, she failed the exam. Rate this article:

1. 5
2. 4
3. 3
4. 2
5. 1

(0 votes, average: 0 out of 5)

Share with your friends!

Removal of warts with liquid nitrogen - indications, process features and consequences

Effective removal of warts using celandine

Price

When visiting a clinic for tumor removal, patients most often focus on the cost of the procedure. In different clinics, the price varies depending on the city, the prestige of the institution, the complexity, the type of removal chosen, the size of the tumor and other factors. On average in Moscow, a laser papilloma removal procedure will cost 1,500 rubles.

Removal with liquid nitrogen will cost 1000 rubles per centimeter of tumor. Electrocoagulation will cost from 600 to 800 rubles. In other cities of Russia, a similar procedure will cost an order of magnitude lower, and the quality of tumor removal will not suffer as a result. A huge number of highly qualified specialists in the field of cosmetic surgery work throughout the country.

Which growths are safe to cauterize with a laser?

Need advice from an experienced doctor?

Get a doctor's consultation online. Ask your question right now.

Ask a free question

Laser coagulation is considered a universal technology for the treatment of viral warts. There are situations in which the use of a laser device is effective. Before choosing therapy, you should understand that some growths are potentially dangerous to humans. Cauterization is allowed only if the growths are completely safe. Refer to the following entities:

1. Vulgar warts. In most cases they appear on the back of the hand. They are round and oval convex growths. Such formations do not pose a threat; their removal using a laser beam is quite safe.
2. Flat growths. Localized on the face, neck, back, arms and feet. They are light brown in color and do not rise above the skin. In the treatment of such papillomas, laser is often used, its use is justified.
3. Plantar growths or spines, which are a keratinized flat formation. In the center of the element there is a black dot - a clogged blood vessel. It is located exclusively on the inner surface of the sole or palm. Causes significant discomfort when walking and other manipulations that require contact with the growth. Laser removal of spinules (plantar warts) is effective. It is impossible to thoroughly clean a deep-lying element in any other way.
4. Filiform papillomas. They form in the folds of the skin, in places of constant friction of underwear or clothing. You can notice such growths in the armpits, under the mammary glands, and on the lower abdomen. They have an elongated shape and a long leg.

Laser treatment without prior diagnostic testing is not recommended in cases of genital warts. Most of them arise due to the activity of oncogenic HPV types.

How is the procedure carried out?

To remove a plantar wart or any other papilloma with a laser, the doctor needs to accurately assess the depth of the growth. The wavelength and intensity of the device’s radiation depends on this.

Before treating the growth, the patient is given an anesthetic injection. This makes it easy to undergo the procedure without feeling discomfort.

The therapy itself consists of layer-by-layer burning of the neoplasm epithelium. The duration of the procedure depends on the size of the papilloma, but does not exceed half an hour.

It is enough to cauterize the wart with a laser only once. If the doctor has chosen the radiation power correctly, after one procedure the growth will disappear without a trace. Immediately after the session, a fairly large, deep wound forms in its place. Over time, it will heal, and new healthy skin without traces of papillomas will appear in its place.

Methods

The best way to deal with papillomas, like removing them, has not yet been invented. Therefore, all that remains is to choose which removal method to use. Today, papillomas can be removed both in a cosmetology salon and in a medical center. In both cases, they can offer one of the three most common types of tumor removal. Namely:

With laser

Laser removal is the burning out of a lesion on a stalk using a laser.

• the laser precisely affects skin tissue and allows you to remove papilloma as accurately as possible without harming healthy skin;
• at the time of removal, the laser also disinfects the wound;
• laser removal does not leave behind scars or scars;
• rapid wound healing;
• after 3–4 weeks it is impossible to distinguish the site of papilloma removal from other skin.

The procedure is recommended for people who have papillomas on the face and other parts of the body.

• acute period of chronic diseases;
• viral and infectious diseases;
• children's age (up to 16 years);
• malignancy of the formation.

The procedure is carried out only in medical clinics and cosmetology centers that have received certification for this procedure.

Before removal begins, the area where the papilloma is located is treated with an analgesic. The glasses are put on the patient and the doctor. The thin tip of the device is used to influence the papilloma and burn it out. The duration of the procedure is several minutes, depending on the size of the formation. Usually this is two to three minutes. After the laser removal is completed, the doctor fixes an adhesive plaster on the wound.

Cryodestruction

Cryodestruction is a method of removing tumors using liquid nitrogen.

• After the procedure, no traces of exposure remain.
• Painless.
• There are no complications after the procedure.
• Papillomas of any size are removed, even very large ones.
• Possibility of removing formations in children and pregnant women.
• No bleeding.
• Low cost of the procedure.

• Malignancy.
• Intolerance to liquid nitrogen.
• Infectious diseases.
• Diabetes.

The procedure for removing papilloma with liquid nitrogen is carried out in a medical facility by an experienced doctor.

Areas of skin that should not be treated are covered with sterile gauze pads. Removal occurs using a special device, a cryodestructor. The doctor places the tip of the cryodestructor on the papilloma, and it freezes in a matter of seconds.

Removal of papillomas and their consequences

Modern medicine has developed drugs and vaccines for many diseases, but today it is impossible to completely recover from the human papillomavirus.

Once infected, HPV resides in the body forever. Only it can manifest itself in different ways: from asymptomatic to painful manifestations. There is only one way out - removal of papillomas. The consequences may be unpredictable, but the risk is often worth the hope. Here are the most popular ways to eliminate skin tumors:

Laser removal

Cauterization of papillomas with a laser is the fastest, most accessible procedure. It will take 30 seconds to remove one wart. Among the advantages of therapy are the accuracy of the cut and a short rehabilitation period. The procedure is non-contact and therefore sterile.

Papillomas seem to burn away, so local painkillers are used during the session. A crust forms at the site of the removed papilloma; after it falls off, a scar may remain on the skin. There have been cases when, after removing a papilloma with a laser, a convex pink spot remained. This formation is a hypertrophic scar. It does not heal on its own, only the redness decreases over time.

Cryodestruction

The method is based on freezing tissue damaged by the virus using liquid nitrogen. The temperature of the active substance is so low that the water in the infected skin cells freezes. Expanding, it leads to rupture and further death of the benign formation. Warts are smeared with liquid nitrogen with a special stick, and after a few days it disappears on its own. Precision is important in cryodestruction.

If nitrogen is too much, deep tissue frostbite can occur. If you underexpose the drug, the desired effect will not occur. Freezing leaves a scarred redness on the skin, which heals on its own after the papilloma is removed after 2-3 days.

It is worth noting possible complications of cryodestruction: bleeding, deep tissue damage, relapse and infection. If the root of the wart is deep, a scar will form after the procedure. In general, liquid nitrogen is harmless: removal of papilloma does not affect children or pregnant women. Therefore, many prefer cryodestruction to other procedures. In addition, additional care after removal of papilloma is not required.

Electrocoagulation

The method is effective if the warts are small. Excision of neoplasms occurs with electric current. Papilloma is removed easily and painlessly. The vessels stick together neatly, no blood leaks out. The resulting crust lasts approximately 10 days. After it falls off, a pink spot remains, which soon blends in with the skin tone. There are no deep wounds after removing a wart with electric current.