Wart Removal

			At Lake Aesthetics Center, wart removal is achieved using the Candela V-Beam pulsed dye laser.  This laser instrument has a well documented, 15 year history of safely and effectively treating warts.  This instrument is designed to deliver an intense but gentle burst of laser light to the wart, thus killing the virus that causes the wart to develop.  The light from the V-Beam delivers a controlled burn to the hardened tissue composing the wart and this results in sloughing over time.  A good laser result causes the wart to immediately darken.  The darkening increases over the next few days then disappears, along with the wart.   In order to provide you with important information regarding these procedures, please consider the following FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and the answers provided.

	WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENTS? We recommend avoiding sun exposure and tanning of the areas to be treated throughout the course of treatment.  Following a laser treatment, avoid sun exposure or tanning, apply ice for any discomfort.  In addition, specific instructions for care and bandaging of the treated wart will be provided and must be followed closely in order to achieve the maximum result.
	HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED TO TREAT MY WART?  A minimum of two treatments will be necessary and, depending upon the extent of the problem, more treatments may be required.  This is especially true of extensive or very thick warts.
	SHOULD I EXPECT TO BE COMPLETELY FREE OF WARTS AFTER THE SERIES OF TREATMENTS? NO!  The warts that are treated will be permanently removed but, with the passage of time, new warts may develop.  All can be treated successfully.  New or small warts require fewer treatments than large thick ones.
	CAN ANY AREA OF THE BODY BE TREATED? YES, with the exception of eyelids and orbits due to the proximity of the eye.  Plantar warts are no exception and are very successfully treated with our laser and follow-up protocols.
	ARE THE TREATMENTS PAINFUL?  In order to minimize discomfort, we use a topical anesthetic on the areas of the body that will be treated.  This is a cream that is applied 30-45 minutes before the laser treatment.  In addition, the laser instrument itself will deliver a short spray of cooling agent, or “cryogen” that further anesthetizes the treatment area just before each laser pulse.  At frequent intervals, usually following a series of 3 - 5 laser pulses, ice is briefly applied to the treatment area.  The degree of discomfort experienced is related to each individual’s pain threshold and the strength of the laser beam.  Many clients claim to feel no discomfort at all.  However, for each client, and at the start of each treatment, a single test pulse of laser energy will be applied to assess discomfort.  If necessary, laser energy levels will be adjusted to accommodate sensitivity.
	WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LASER TREATMENTS?  Immediately following laser wart treatment the affected areas will appear to be much darker.  This is a good response and over several days to weeks, the darkness will resolve and much of the wart will have disappeared.  Occasionally, side effects such as blistering, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation and bruising may occur.  Risks of these side effects are minimized if treatment instructions are closely followed by the client and all of these are side effects are temporary.
	HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT TAKE? Depending upon the size of the area to be treated, the laser treatment may take as little as 1-2  minutes or somewhat longer.  The pretreatment skin preparation will require 30-45 minutes and some posttreatment care may be necessary as well.
	HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE I SEE RESULTS?  Changes in the appearance of warts are immediate and gradually resolve.
	HOW LONG MUST I WAIT BETWEEN TREATMENTS? Depending upon the type and size of the warts treated, as well as the individual, the optimal time between treatments can be highly variable.  If possible, we ask that you return to the Aesthetics Center 1-2 weeks following treatment so that we can assess your progress and make appropriate recommendations regarding your next treatment.  This surveillance visit takes only a few minutes, does not require an appointment and is free of charge.