Plantar Warts

Cost & Item Codes – Our fees and item codes are under the Fees & Services tab.

Scans – We normally do not require any scans prior to your appointment.

Requirements – If you are coming in for wart surgery, please wear open shoes.

Telehealth – We may be able to offer an initial telehealth appointment if you live a distance away. Phone one of our friendly staff to see if this is possible for you. We may ask you to email some photos of your wart/s prior to your appointment.

Do I need surgery? – Although your doctor may recommend a procedure, it is your decision if you go ahead with the operation or not.

Plantar wart procedures are usually carried out in our state-of-the-art procedure room unless patients are needle phobic requiring general anaesthesia. This is usually discussed during your initial consultation.

Duration – The procedure typically takes about 45 minutes depending on the size and number of warts involved.

Anaesthesia – Clinic procedures are performed under local anaesthesia (tibial block + local infiltration), with or without oral sedation.

Hospital surgery can be performed under general anaesthesia.

Medications – Assuming that pain medication is needed, use either the medication prescribed by your doctor or two Ibuprofen, approximately 3 hours after the procedure is performed.

Smoking – If you are a smoker, you need to stop the habit of smoking for best results of normal healing and reduce postoperative complications.

Patients must follow their doctor’s instructions carefully during recovery to ensure proper healing and minimize the risk of complications.

The following should be adhered to in order to hasten your recovery from foot surgery. In general, the following timeline can be expected:

Immediately after surgery:  Go home immediately after the procedure and stay off your foot as much as possible for a couple days. Keep the foot elevated above your heart.

• When you are moving around make sure you have open shoes or your post-op shoe on.
• The anaesthetics will typically wear off in 4 to 8 hours after the surgery.
• Assuming that pain medication is needed, use either the medication prescribed by your surgeon or two Ibuprofen, approximately 3 hours after the procedure is performed.

For any hospital procedures under general anaesthesia, bandages must be kept dry at all times and must not be removed before your first post-operative consultation with Dr Kim. Place a plastic bag over your foot when showering.

Wart excisions tend to bleed a lot. So, a small amount of bleeding and drainage (roughly 3-4 cm in diameter) oozing into your dressing is normal post-operatively. It should not be actively expanding though, and it should be pretty much dry by the next day. If significant bleeding occurs, please call the office.

For any clinic-based procedures.

• Do not remove the dressing applied until 2-3 days, as instructed by your surgeon.

The first few days:

• After removing the dressing soak the foot in Betadine solution and lukewarm water (seven capfuls of Betadine to one litre of water) for twenty minutes. You are to soak your foot each day until your first post-operative visit.
• Keep the foot dry until the first dressing change. Following your foot soaks, you will apply topical antiseptics such as Betadine and a clean dressing 2-3 times a day.
• Try to keep the dressing clean and dry when showering. After a shower, change your dressing immediately.
• If the foot gets wet accidentally, you may remove the dressing, apply an antiseptic cream or ointment and a sterile dressing.

You can return to normal activities after 2-3 days.

Rest – 2-3 days (minimal weight bearing for essential things only like bathroom breaks 5-10 minutes maximum per hour)

Walk – 2-3 days (movement limited outside of house)

Driving – 1 day (for any hospital procedures under general anaesthesia, you cannot drive until after 24 hours when you are off narcotics. Therefore, you will need someone to drive you home from hospital)

Return to sedentary work – 1-2 days (If you work at a desk with minimal time on your feet and you are able to elevate your foot/feet)

Return to active work – 1-2 weeks (If you have a physical job or are standing a lot and unable to elevate your foot/feet)

Low impact exercise – 2-3 weeks (slow walking, cycling, golf using a caddie)

High impact exercise – 3-4 weeks (fast walking, running, jumping, playing sport)

Some possible complication may include infection, pain, swelling, recurrence.

Patients should contact their doctor if they notice excessive bleeding, develop a fever, or have any questions.

Healing time varies depending on the wart size and number of warts.  Full recovery can take 3-6 weeks.