Plantar Warts

[Greenclovers]

I've finally been referred to a dermotologist about my plantar warts The referring doctor mentioned lasering them off. Has anyone had this done and do you know what it involves?

[gary wayne]

I've finally been referred to a dermotologist about my plantar warts. The referring doctor mentioned lasering them off. Has anyone had this done and do you know what it involves?

Yes, Since April I have had 4 separate surgeries to remove approimately 100 warts. As you know that sounds like a lot but they are in a rather confined space on the bootom of my big toe and about 30 other separate small spots. The podiatrist used laser and excision (cutting) to remove them. The numbers have gone down but they still reappear in many of the same spots. He essentially removed about 1.5 square inches of the bottom of my big toe to a depth of approx. 1/8" with a scalpel and then lasered the wound to control bleeding . He also cut and lasered the other 30 places. some of them have gone and the number is down but many return. This is very painful and time consumming dressing the wounds and soaking everyday. I think he is really trying but with limited results.

The numbing process is bad with the numbing agent being shot into your foot with a needle at the appropriate sites. Then he cuts and lasers the areas (absolutely no pain at this point) and applies massive dressings to absorb bleeding for a week or so. You have to soak in epsom salt water everyday for about two weeks and apply dressings daily to the affected areas. To help the healing he prescribed regranex ($600 a small tube)to aid in the regrowth of the tissue. You can hobble along for about two weeks until you can begin to limp a little less. IT HURTS AT NIGHT! You will need some light duty pain killers to help every now and then. You have to use gloves, bleech your showers, sinks, wash towels separately, etc. to keep from speading the virus to your family. You almost turn into a germiphobe. All this for just a chance that they will go away! Not even a good chance!
GOOD LUCK.

[KarenQ]

YES! I had it done 10 years ago and worked beautifully! The warts never returned!! I took a valium type drug before I went for the procedure so I needed someone to drive me. They numbed it up, and lasered it out. It left a pretty big hole in my foot for a while, but healed up nicely. Good Luck!

[footdoctor]

I began using a CO2 laser for wart vaporization in 1983. The laser essentially vaporizes, not burns off, the wart since we are mostly water and the temperature of the beam may approach 3000 degrees. It is a most effective method with high degrees of success, little if any scar tissue formation, reduced post-op pain, and an improved healing rate since it is a very dry wound afterward. It does require anesthesia, and may be performed in an office setting or as an out-patient. Check the experience level of the surgeon. Hope that helps.
dr. L