SWIFT Plantar Wart Treatment
Brunswick & Sandringham
Brunswick and Sandringham Foot Clinics offers SWIFT Plantar Wart treatment to residents of and visitors to greater Melbourne and beyond.
What is SWIFT?
SWIFT is new technology for the general treatment of skin lesions in podiatry and dermatology. SWIFT was developed in the UK and has been approved for use in the USA, the EU, Canada and in Australia. SWIFT therapy treatment uses microwave energy which is delivered through a probe applied to the skin to treat the affected tissue.
SWIFT Microwave thermotherapy can be used by suitably trained podiatrists, not just on the feet but also the legs up to and including the knees. SWIFT microwave thermotherapy has also been approved for use on the hands and the arms, up to and including the elbows.
Our Services
The microwaves generated by the SWIFT machine excite the water molecules and cause friction. This friction heats up the skin cells to 42-45 C° which puts the virally infected cells of the wart into a state of stress. The stressed cells release “danger signaling” heat shock proteins which induces maturation of Langerhans cells and enhances their migration to the lymph nodes. Cytotoxic T cells migrate to the epidermis and begin to destroy all virally infected cells (Ardern-Jones, M., et al. (2016)).
Click on the images for more detail.
How does it feel?
When you present for treatment with SWIFT, the overlying thick skin (callus) will be reduced (debrided) using a scalpel. A photograph will sometimes be taken using a digital microscope to help track the progress of the treatment. Treatment is administered in 3 to five, 2 second bursts at each treatment site. Like many treatments for skin lesions, some discomfort may be experienced. Whilst pain levels vary from person to person, most people undergoing SWIFT liken it to the pain of a small but hot needle, lasting for no more than 3 seconds.
The pain then quickly subsides. Whilst the skin will not suffer burns at 45 C deg, because your body senses danger it will quickly trigger a pain response. This is why the pain disappears so quickly. It is unusual for there to be any more than a slight redness and warmth at the site of treatment. Only in rare cases is there any prolonged pain. A post-procedural dressing is rarely necessary.
How many treatments are required?
Typically, treatment is over three months with each treatment 4 weeks apart. Like the first visit, the wart will be debrided, and treated with SWIFT each time if required. Compared with traditional treatments such as chemicals, acids or freezing, the risk of adverse events such as blistering, bruising and post treatment pain are significantly reduced using SWIFT. It is however noteworthy that these reactions may occur in some patients, but this is rare. Unlike some traditional treatments, SWIFT wart treatments are safe to use on breastfeeding patients.
Where and when can I book for SWIFT microwave thermotherapy?
SWIFT is available every business day at the Brunswick Foot Clinic but is currently only available every 4th Saturday at the Sandringham Foot Clinic.
When is SWIFT Microwave thermotherapy (SWIFT) available at the Brunswick and Sandringham Foot Clinics?
SWIFT is available every day at our Brunswick location during our normal business hours of our normal business days of Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
At our Sandringham location, SWIFT is available every fourth Saturday from and including the 1st February 2025. The following dates have been set aside when SWIFT (in addition to our normal services) will available at the Sandringham Foot Clinic :
- 1st February
- 1st March
- 29th March
- 26th April
- 24th May
- 21st June
- 19th July
- 16th August
- 13th September
- 11th October
- 8th November
- 6th December
Please note that sometimes, for operational reasons it will be necessary to vary the dates when SWIFT will be available at our Sandringham clinic.
It is important to know that whilst SWIFT is available on the day of your initial appointment for same, it is often far better to be well acquainted with the information that we provide about this treatment of warts / verrucae. In short SWIFT is a painful treatment to receive and there are additional costs with its use. Whilst SWIFT does not usually lead to down time from work, sometimes your own dose response will lead you to want to be off your feet for a few days.
If you would like to receive our written information about SWIFT prior to your consultation do please let our clinic know by calling us directly on 9387 8555. You can also register as a patient of our clinics on line from our website. If you then provide your email address and request a copy of our SWIFT patient information sheet we will be happy to then email same to you for your consideration in advanced of your visit.
We thank you for your enquiry.
If you would like more information on how to treat plantar warts, please call our Brunswick Foot Clinic on (03) 9387 8555 or Sandringham Foot Clinic (03) 9555 6555 or click below to book online.
FOOT CLINIC LOCATIONS
Our service areas
Brunswick Foot Clinic and Sandringham Foot Clinic provide podiatric care for residents of and visitors to greater Melbourne and beyond.
Brunswick Foot Clinic:
Sandringham Foot Clinic:
9 Glenlyon Road (cnr of David St)
Brunswick Vic 3056
Ph: (03) 9387 8555
Fax: (03) 9388 2288
Email: info@melbournepodiatrist.com.au
3/231 Bay Road (cnr Advantage Road)
Sandringham Vic 3191
Ph: (03) 9555 6555
Fax: (03) 9555 6556
Email: info@melbournepodiatrist.com.au