Gone are the days where the notorious verruca is seen as difficult to treat! With evergreen technology, you can get SWIFT machine treatment and permanently say goodbye to the verrucas that have been persistently pursuing your feet. Read on to learn more about verrucas and how you can get SWIFT treatment in Little Chalfont and Beaconsfield to treat them!
What Are Verrucas?
This article will probably be lost on you if you aren’t aware of what a verruca is. Verrucas are contagious and often painful lumps/warts that form on the soles of your feet. They are often confused with corns, but are very different from them. To learn more about the differences between verrucas and corns, and verrucas in general you can read our blog post about it!
What Is SWIFT Machine Treatment?
SWIFT is a relatively new technology that’s been developed in the UK, and has been licensed for treating verrucas by podiatrists all over. SWIFT uses microwave energy, delivered through a probe which is put on the skin to treat the affected area. With SWIFT Machine Treatment, you can get rid of multiple verrucas and warts in just one sitting, and it’s quick and efficient in doing so. The cherry on top is that you don’t require anaesthetics of dressings afterwards!
How Does It Work?
As mentioned earlier, SWIFT uses microwave energy to help heal the infected area of your skin. With SWIFT, you don’t puncture or damage the skin, and the treatment is quick and effective. It uses the same technology that’s been used to effectively treat cancer for the last 30 odd years. SWIFT Machine Treatment is completely non-invasive and is a super effective procedure. As it is with most skin conditions and viruses, the best way to treat verrucas is by triggering the body’s immune system to allow it to naturally heal and clear the infected area. This is precisely what SWIFT treatment does. It uses microwave technology to make electromagnetic waves penetrate deep into the infected area to alert the immune system of the verruca to instigate the self-healing process, while also destroying the verruca as well.
Does It Hurt?
Treatment for most skin issues can be slightly uncomfortable. It’s the same for verrucas as well. You may feel a slight amount of discomfort during the treatment, but pain is a very subjective thing. Some people may find it more painful than others but the general consensus is that SWIFT Machine Treatment is not too painful. A common comparison made by people who’ve undergone SWIFT treatment is that it feels like a sudden heat that lasts for 2-3 seconds and then subsides. You don’t require anaesthetics for the treatment, but if you feel like you have a very low pain tolerance, you can choose to apply them 45 minutes prior to the session. Depending on the size of your verruca, your podiatrist may even choose to reduce the lesion with a blade.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
In some cases, one session may be enough to remove a verruca or wart. In fact, one sitting can usually be enough to remove multiple verrucas. But, as is with all things, the number of sittings you may need can be pretty subjective. It all depends on how your body reacts to the treatment. No body is the same, so some people may need more than one session while others are good to go after just one. Recent studies have shown that the very best results are seen with 3 sessions in 4 weekly intervals. Your podiatrist will be able to work out these details with you and give you a clearer idea on how many sittings you may need based on how your body reacts to the SWIFT Machine Treatment.
What You Can Expect With SWIFT Treatment in Little Chalfont and Beaconsfield?
SWIFT Machine Treatment is very simple! Once the verruca has been cleaned, the probe is kept over the affected area and a precise and highly controlled dose of energy is administered to it. When the electromagnetic waves hit the infected tissue, the temperature of the area is heightened and so the diseased cells get destroyed. This also triggers your body’s self-healing mechanism and this ensures that the tissue starts self-repairing automatically, while generating fresh and new cells.
With SWIFT treatment, you get what you expect, because the name itself suggests the treatment is swift and quick! The zap lasts 2-5 seconds, and in most cases there’s a minimum of four zaps per verruca.
For most people, the “pain” is bearable and the treatment has been compared to the feeling of a quick injection.
Once you’re done with the procedure, the area may feel a little tender, but you can still go about your day-to-day activities without hindrance, as long as you’re weary not to put excessive amounts of pressure on you foot.
SWIFT Treatments require more than one session, but the total number of sessions depends on the size, location, duration, and number of verrucas on your feet, as well as how your body takes to the treatment. The ideal number of sessions (as mentioned above) is 3, with a 4 week interval between each one.
After your first sitting, the verruca will not change in appearance, but don’t let this make you lose hope. Visible results may be slow, but the healing is still rapidly taking place. All you need is a bit of patience, and you’ll see the worthwhile results after all your sessions! Your body’s immune system will take a little while to gain pace, which is why most treatments require that four-week gap, to allow your body to adjust well.
Am I Suitable To SWIFT Machine Treatment?
Pretty much anyone with skin lesions can undergo SWIFT treatment, but there are a few exceptions (listed below). SWIFT Machine Treatment is suitable for children who are older, and also low-risk diabetics with good circulation in their bodies. Before undergoing treatment, your podiatrist will assess you and advise you accordingly.
SWIFT Treatment may not be suited to you if:
- You have heart problems or wear a pacemaker
- You have nerve damage in your feet
- You have poor circulation or diabetes (high-risk)
- You have metal pins/plates/replacement joints in your feet/ankles
- Your body doesn’t heal too well
- You’re on immunosuppressive drugs from cancer treatment/rheumatoid arthritis (since they lower your immunity)
- You are under 10 years old
- You’re very sensitive to pain (fear not, however, because in this case, you can use analgesics and go ahead with the procedure)
You’re pregnant/breastfeeding since your immune system is very turbulent during this period. So, the SWIFT Treatment results may not be as successful.
Conclusion
Now that you understand SWIFT Machine Treatment better, you’ll be more inclined to try it out on your verrucas. Book an appointment with us at Bucks Foot Clinic to receive the best SWIFT Treatment in Little Chalfont and Beaconsfield!
Please call us on 0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us