Gone in 1 to 3 treatments
Safe and effective for warts and verrucas
Prices from £100 per session
Plantar warts and verrucas are caused by infection with specific types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that affect the outer layers of the skin. These are known as cutaneous strains and are completely different from the types linked to genital warts or cervical cancer. Warts and verrucas most often appear on the hands or feet, where the virus causes a small bump or thickened area of skin. While harmless, they can be unsightly, uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing.
Warts will often go away on their own, but this can take years. Over-the-counter treatments are available from pharmacies, but they tend to be messy, time-consuming, and are usually ineffective. Cryotherapy, where the wart is frozen with liquid nitrogen, is another option, but it frequently fails to fully resolve the issue and requires multiple sessions with ongoing recovery. Surgical removal using an electrosurgical device is also available, but this method is invasive and healing can be slow.
While other newer microwave-based technologies are available, we prefer our laser-based approach because it often clears the wart in a single session. It is a more intense treatment, but many clients feel the trade-off is worth it.
Laser offers an effective alternative to other wart removal techniques. While the treatment is quick and straightforward to perform, it is deliberately aggressive. We use a high-power long-pulse Nd:YAG laser at the 1064 nanometre wavelength to deliver deep thermal energy into the infected tissue. This creates a controlled thermal injury that destroys the virus directly and shuts down the blood supply feeding the wart.
Short-pulse or Q-Switched lasers, often used for tattoo removal, do not deliver the thermal action required to treat warts effectively. The long-pulse platform we use is specifically chosen for its ability to reach deeper targets and achieve reliable results.
After treatment, the wart will typically darken and may turn black before reducing in size or falling away over the following one to three weeks. Occasionally, a blister may form. This is part of the expected healing response and usually settles without issue.
Because laser treatment can release viral particles into the air, we take infection control seriously. A high-grade vacuum extractor is used at the treatment site to capture any airborne material, and both the client and operator wear masks throughout the procedure to minimise the risk of inhaling HPV.
Wart & Verruca Removal FAQ
In most cases, yes. Smaller or more superficial warts and verrucas often clear after just one treatment. Larger, deeper, or long-standing lesions may take two or three sessions to fully resolve. We will assess your skin, the size and number of lesions, and your medical history before advising on likely outcomes. Most clients come to us after other treatments have failed, and we aim to provide a more definitive solution.
Most warts and verrucas respond within one to three treatments, spaced around four weeks apart. The majority of warts resolve after just one session, especially if they are small and not deeply rooted. The procedure itself is quick, usually taking just a few minutes per lesion. Prices start from £100 per session, depending on the size and number of lesions treated. We will give you a clear quote at your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
Probably not. The key is to completely destroy all infected tissue during treatment. If any infected material is left behind, the wart can regrow, which is why we often recommend follow-up sessions for larger or more stubborn lesions. If we treat and kill all of your active lesions, we can reduce the likelihood of further breakouts. However, because HPV can remain dormant in the skin, new warts can occasionally appear in future, sometimes in different locations.
We use a medical-grade long-pulse Nd:YAG laser because it delivers sustained heat deep into the infected tissue. This allows us to destroy both the wart and the underlying blood supply that keeps it alive. The laser operates at a high energy density, creating a deep thermal effect that is essential for effective wart clearance.
Some clinics attempt to treat warts using Q-Switched lasers, which are designed for pigment and tattoo removal. These do not deliver the continuous heat required to kill wart tissue.
Yes, this treatment does hurt. It is one of our more intense procedures. The laser creates a therapeutic thermal injury to destroy the wart and its blood supply, so you will feel an intense hot sensation during treatment. The area may remain warm, tingly, and tender for a while afterwards. Most people tolerate it well, especially knowing that it often works in just one session, but we will always explain what to expect and help you prepare.
Recovery generally takes one to four weeks. The treated area usually turns white during treatment and will darken over time, often going black. The site will be swollen and a little tender.
Treated infected material will gradually break down, and some oozing from the site may be seen. We encourage you to manually assist in debriding the area and removing dead tissue if needed. Exudate can be messy and is potentially infectious, so we recommend using an absorbent dressing if the site responds in this way.
When large or deep warts dissolve and fall away, a noticeable hollow or socket may be left behind where the infection used to sit. This can take a couple of months to remodel and heal fully.
Yes, in most cases. The treated area may be tender or swollen for a day or two, especially if the wart was on a weight-bearing area like the foot or on your hands. We often treat tradespeople, and if your work involves tools, vibration, or contact with dirt or chemicals, you may want to wear protective gloves at work until it settles. If the site is likely to weep or scab, we recommend covering it with an absorbent dressing to keep it clean and reduce irritation.
You may be left with a red mark or a small hollow where the lesion used to be. These hollows usually remodel over time as the skin heals. If the wart is gone, the area should feel soft and flat. If the infection is still present, we can sometimes feel a small firm lump under the skin, a bit like a grain of rice. If you are unsure, we are happy to assess the site at follow-up and let you know whether further treatment is needed.
We do not treat young children with this procedure. It is one of our more intense treatments and produces a hot, sharp sensation that can be difficult for younger patients to tolerate. In some cases we may consider treating older teenagers, but this is decided on a case-by-case basis after consultation. If you are enquiring on behalf of a young person, please get in touch and we can advise you appropriately.
Pre Treatment Advice
For 4 weeks prior to treatment
Do not apply fake tan / self tanning products to the area. We can not treat you if these products are on or next to your wart / verruca
Three days prior to treatment
Using a coarse nail file try to remove as much infected tissue from the wart or verruca as possible. If there is fingernail / toenail involvement, try to cut back the nail as much as you can to reveal the lesion
On the day of treatment
• Wash area well, wear clean socks if applicable
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated water immediately before treatment
• Don’t be hungry, or thirsty, don't be hung-over or just worked a nightshift
• You may choose to take paracetamol an hour before treatment to help mitigate treatment associated pain if that’s a safe drug for you to use, but please do not consume aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID’s)
• Please do not have any kind of product on the area to be treated on the day of treatment, including fake tan
Post Treatment Advice
In the 2 days post treatment
• We will apply aloe vera gel liberally to the treated area immediately after treatment
• Treated areas will be swollen and may appear white, grey or brown
• Some scabbing to the area is possible
• Avoid strenuous activity such as gym sessions and sports following laser treatment
• Wash the area gently at least daily and apply Savlon
• Avoid all heat treatments including hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and hot showers directly on the treated area
For 1 week post treatment
• No swimming in chlorinated water
• Necrotised infected tissue should begin to slough away, you might need to manually assist with that process. Your wart / verruca may ooze slightly and an absorbent dressing may be indicated for this
In the 2 weeks post treatment
• Some tenderness may be felt for the first 2 weeks
In the 4 weeks post treatment
• All infected material should have finished falling away. A red hollow or socket may remain where the lesion used to be. Your skin should remodel over the next few weeks to heal this
• If you can still feel a firm lump under the skin, the wart / verruca may be still active and require further treatment
• Repeat treatment should be made 4 weeks after previous treatment if required