What is Swift?
Are you tired of dealing with pesky plantar warts? Freeland Foot & Ankle Clinic is very excited to announce that we have a brand new and effective treatment for surface-based skin lesions, primarily warts.
Plantar warts are a common and stubborn viral infection. "Plantar" means "Of the sole" in Latin. Unlike other types of warts, plantar warts are especially painful as the pressure from walking and standing forces them to grow into your skin. Like all warts, Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus. Underneath the skin, the wart can have finger-like roots that reach down and grow, making them very difficult to treat effectively from the surface.
Swift is a cutting-edge, FDA Cleared technology proven to be highly effective in the removal of plantar warts. It delivers low-dose microwave energy through a specialized probe that targets and effectively treats the underlying HPV virus by stimulating a natural immune response in the body. We like to say that we're addressing the root cause, not the symptom.
How effective is Swift?
Due to Swift harnessing the power of the patient's immune system to target the root cause of the wart (HPV), efficacy is significantly higher compared to other treatment methods. As you'll see in the example above, even large warts that patients have suffered with for months or years can be greatly improved and even eradicated by this state-of-the-art technology.
What Should I Expect from a Wart Treatment?
The Swift protocol involves between 3 and 4 treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart to align with the body's natural immune cycle. Each treatment lasts only 5-10 minutes and is what we call a "sock off - sock on" treatment: limited debridement, no breaking of the skin, and no bandages. No home treatment is required between treatments and patients are able to resume daily activities immediately post-treatment.Does Swift hurt?
While pain is variable and patient/lesion-specific, most patients typically feel some level of discomfort as infected tissue temperatures are rapidly elevated over a 2-second dose of energy. The pain immediately subsides following cessation of energy delivery, and there is very limited post-procedural pain; in fact, some report an immediate reduction in pain levels. All patients are able to continue with day-to-day activities immediately following treatment.
Do Traditional Wart Treatments Hurt?
Most traditional treatment methods for plantar warts involve post-procedural or post-treatment pain. You may not be able to exercise, swim, or go about your normal routine due to pain and discomfort.
When Should You Seek Treatment For Plantar Warts?
It's essential to visit a podiatrist if you suspect that you have a plantar wart. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely the wart is to persist. Not promptly treating a wart can lead to the wart spreading to other parts of your body or even other people in your household. Here are some common symptoms to look out for:- You may get the feeling of "painful pebbles" in your shoes.
- You may experience pain when you compress the sides of the wart.
- You may see a circular flat spot on the skin with a depressed area in the middle.
- They may appear "yellowed" with a crust; small black dots can be an easy giveaway.
- The lesion on your foot is painful, bleeding, or has changed color.
- Treatments you have tried do not work, and the wart reoccurs or multiplies.
- Discomfort that prevents you from doing regular activities.
- Poor sensation in your feet.
- You are unsure if the lesion is a wart.