Did you know that plantar warts are a form of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)? Did you know that on their own the warts are not contagious, but they can be spread by using public pools, public showers, or wearing someone else’s shoes? And, you can transmit plantar warts from your feet to other parts of your body. That is not a pretty picture.
There are two minor surgical procedures that can be done in the surgeon’s office or in an out-patient clinic. Depending on how large and how many plantar warts you have, your procedure may require about one hour for completion. Before any procedure is performed, you need to tell your surgeon if you have diabetes, a heart condition, or are taking any medications that can compromise your immune system.
Surgery to Remove Plantar Warts
Surgical Excision: This procedure is called curettage, which means to cut out a growth. The wart area is injected with a local anesthetic. You will be awake during the procedure, but your foot will be dumb. Your surgeon uses an ultrasound or electrical medical device, or a scalpel to destroy the wart. Then, the remainder of the wart is removed with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. The open skin is cleaned and wrapped. You will remain in the surgeon’s office for a while to ensure that there is no bleeding from the wound area. The skin needs to heal on its own, and there are no stitches required. It is best to have someone with you who can drive you home.
Laser Surgery: This procedure requires specialized, modern, laser equipment and is best performed on large plantar warts or if you have a number of warts to be removed at the same time. The wart area is injected with a local anesthetic. You will be awake during the procedure, but your foot will be dumb. The blood vessels attached to the warts are destroyed by the intensive light beam of the laser. Your surgeon will determine if it is best to let the wart die on its own or to remove it at the end of the laser surgery. The open skin is cleaned and wrapped. You will remain in the surgeon’s office for a while to ensure that there is no bleeding from the wound area. The skin needs to heal on its own, and there are no stitches required. It is best to have someone with you who can drive you home.
After Surgery Care
Before you leave the surgeon’s office, you will be instructed on how to care for your wound and when to schedule a checkup appointment. In most cases, you need to rest your foot for 2 to 3 days. Full recovery can take several weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when it is okay to resume your normal daily activities, what type of shoes to wear during and after recovery, and when it will be okay to return to work.
