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Swift Microwave Therapy for Warts and Verrucae
Swift is a new technology that uses microwave therapy to remove
warts and verrucae on hands and feet.
If you tried acids, freeze sprays, creams or duct tape etc. and are still struggling to get rid of your painful verrucae, then contact us for a Swift microwave therapy assessment.
What's Swift microwave therapy?
Swift is a new, scientifically proven technology that attacks infected areas using microwave energy to stimulate healing. A burst of localised energy is applied to the infected skin through a special handheld probe.
Swift was developed in the UK and licensed for the general treatment of verrucae and skin lesions in Podiatry and Dermatology. Microwave energy has been in use for over 30 years – and is employed globally for lung, liver, kidney, and breast cancer treatment.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Before your treatment, your podiatrist may remove some of the overlying hard skin on the verrucae (feet only).
During a special appointment, the Swift probe will be used to apply a pre-determined amount of energy to the verrucae. The treatment lasts 2 – 5 seconds and is repeated as needed.
Pain levels vary from patient to patient, but most people liken the sensation to a pain similar to an injection or a sting lasting no more than 3 seconds and then quickly subsiding.
The Swift treatment doesn’t require applying local anaesthetic, nor a dressing. Patients can carry on walking or driving after the treatment.
How Does it Work?
The treatment consists of delivering several precise doses of highly localised microwave energy through a handheld probe.
The microwave energy targets water molecules within the verrucae itself. The energy causes a rapid temperature elevation that destroys localised malignant cells without affecting the surrounding skin and tissue. The process is quick, virtually painless and doesn’t require avoiding water, putting on plasters, or local anaesthesia.
On a deeper level, the thermal stimuli from Swift therapy encourage the production of the heat stress protein in the skin. This reaction provokes a series of reactions from the immune system making the verrucae shrivel and disappear.
Is Swift Microwave Therapy Suitable for Me?
Most people with warts or verrucae are able to have the Swift microwave treatment. We will carry out an assessment prior to treatment and advise you more on this.
If you have tried various verrucae treatments to no effect, then Swift microwave energy might be for you.
Swift microwave therapy is not suitable if:
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You have metal pins, plates, or replacement joints near the treatment area,
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You wear a pacemaker,
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Have limited capacity caused by neuropathy (nerve damage) or poor peripheral circulation,
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You are diabetic,
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You are taking immunity suppressing drugs,
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Have a low pain threshold.
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If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you can still be treated. The energy from Swift is delivered entirely locally, and so carries the same risk as treatments such as electrolysis, which is considered safe. However, it is known that the immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy, so treatment may be theoretically less likely to be successful.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of Swift applications you can have is dependent on how you respond to treatment. In some cases, you may need more than one treatment depending on the response.
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Children generally respond well to a single treatment and can start to see improvement soon. For adults, it takes on average 3 to 4 treatments with 2 to 4 weeks between treatments to allow time for your immune system to respond.
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Occasionally, further Swift applications may be required, particularly with long-standing verrucae.