Wart removal is a popular procedure in modern clinics. Its essence is to extract abnormal cells from healthy tissues. The methods of removing warts are diverse and the choice depends on several factors simultaneously: the size of the tumor, the location, the number of growths, the personal preferences of the doctor and the patient.
Today, the most popular methods are to remove warts:
- Laser;
- Radio wave;
- Removal with liquid nitrogen;
- Electrocoagulation;
- Traditional surgery.
The use of one or another method to remove warts (cryodestruction, electrocoagulation, laser exposure, surgical excision) depends on the size of the formation and personal preferences of the patient.
All methods, except surgery, do not require special training. It is necessary to take blood tests for coagulation, infections, etc. Just before cutting the wart with a scalpel.
Laser wart removal
Laser removal is the most popular way to get rid of skin growths. Its advantage is speed, no scars, minimal risk of infection and other complications. The method is suitable for removing small warts, although it is also applicable to 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 by laser destruction of warts. No incisions are made on the skin, the method is completely non-contact.
The laser beam gently cauterizes the blood vessels surrounding the wart. Bacteria die during the procedure. Recovery takes no more than a week. Swelling, bleeding, infections and other complications are excluded. Warts left after tissue removal, if necessary, can be sent for histology as they are not completely destroyed.
The procedure is simple, it is possible to use anesthesia. The patient is placed on a sofa and the laser head is aimed at the wart. A beam is then fired, which evaporates part of the newly formed tissue in a fraction of a second. After a few seconds, such exposure is completed, but if the wart is very large, you need to remove it in a few steps. This is the main disadvantage - if a course of procedures is needed, the patient spends a lot of personal time and pays for several sessions.
Removal of warts by radio wave method
This is the most gentle technique and is most suitable for small warts. High frequency waves allow you to remove pathological tissues, literally evaporating them, which makes this method similar to laser destruction. The mark that remains on the skin is practically invisible, so the use of radio waves is possible even on the face.
Also the advantages of this method include:
- Painlessness;
- Fast recovery;
- Minimal complications and side effects;
- Elimination of bacteria during the procedure;
- No need for complicated care;
- Possibility for histological analysis.
The disadvantage is that radiotherapy is not suitable for especially large warts.
Removal of warts with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction is a contact method for eliminating warts. Its advantages lie in the low price, the speed of the procedure and the good result. The method is suitable for removal in any area of the body, but is rarely used when working with a person - small traces are possible. On the downside: sometimes there are painful sensations during and after the procedure.
The process of removing liquid nitrogen is simple. The patient is placed or sitting on a sofa in the operating room, the place of exposure is treated with antiseptic. The doctor dips a cotton swab or special instrument in liquid nitrogen. Its temperature is below -195, 75 ° C. The doctor then brings the wand to the wart and touches it. Tissues quickly freeze and collapse - cells break due to the expansion of frozen water. Tissue debris is removed, 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 obligatory to use a local anesthetic and to treat the skin with an antiseptic. Removal is performed using an electrocoagulator - a special device that heats the tissues with high-frequency electric current. The loop of the device touches the neoplasm and carefully cuts it, while cauterizing the surrounding blood vessels and killing bacteria. Contour temperature 800 ° C. After exposure, a thin crust is formed, which falls off within a few days, leaving behind a small pink spot.
The advantages of the procedure are the small time required, the ability to remove several warts in one session (if they are located close to each other), large warts can be removed. Bleeding and infection are ruled out during and after surgery. When removing small warts, no traces remain.
The disadvantage is the inability to use for plantar warts. They are very rough and localized in a very dense layer of skin. In such situations, more intensive treatments are used.
Surgical removal of warts
Today, this is the most effective way to remove warts, as it allows you to ensure the elimination of all pathological tissues. However, it is used only in extreme cases when the warts are very large or recur.
5 stages of the operation:
- Treatment of the area with antiseptic solution;
- Clean incision of a scalpel around the lesion;
- Removal of his body with tweezers from the surrounding healthy tissues;
- Surgical wound treatment;
- Sewing and dressing.
The infrequent use of this method is due to the scars that remain after suturing. In addition, there is a risk of infection, inflammation, swelling, bleeding in case of extensive postoperative wounds. However, with large old warts, you can only get rid of them this way. In case of emergency, surgical removal is performed even on the face.
A dermatologist and surgeon will help you choose a way to remove warts in advance. The most common choices are:
- For small warts on the face and other parts of the body - laser, electrocoagulation, cryodestructiveness, removal of radio waves;
- For especially large on the face and body, plantar warts - surgical, laser, radio waves;
- For multiple not on the sole - laser; radio wave, liquid nitrogen removal;
- For small plantations - laser.
Sometimes the choice depends on the general health of the patient, age and even the 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.