A Comparative Analysis Of Wart Treatments
Warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can be a persistent and challenging condition to treat. Two popular methods for plantar wart removal are the Cutera Genesis Plus laser and the Swift microwave wart therapy. This article will explore why Cutera Genesis Plus lasers are more effective in treating foot warts compared to Swift microwave devices.
We will compare the two treatments, firstly in the table below and then in more detail across four key criteria:
- Clinical evidence
- Energy delivery
- Pain and discomfort
- Total energy delivery
Or, you can skip straight to our conclusion at the end.
Why Is Laser The Most Effective and Least Painful Plantar Wart Treatment?
| Feature | Swift Microwave Therapy | Cutera Genesis Plus Laser |
|
Clearance Rate |
70% to 85% |
90% to 95% |
|
Effectiveness |
Moderate Clearance Rates |
Higher Clearance Rates |
|
Number of Sessions |
3 to 5 |
2 to 4 |
|
Pain Level During Treatment |
Mild to Moderate |
Moderate and the treatment is over faster. See number of pulses and pulse duration below |
|
Average number of pulses per session |
3 to 5 pulses per wart |
1 to 2 pulses per wart |
|
Average Pulse Duration |
~2 seconds per pulse |
0.6 to 10 millseconds per pulse |
|
Patient Satisfaction |
Moderate |
High |
|
Risk of Recurrence |
Moderate |
Lower |
1. Plantar Wart Treatment Clinical Evidence
Swift Microwave Therapy
A study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found an overall foot wart clearance rate of 72.2% after three sessions of Swift therapy.
References: Wendy Hagon , Jonathan Hagon , Greer Noble , Angela BrentonRule, Sarah Stewart and Ivan Bristow. Microwave therapy for the treatment of plantar warts. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research (2023) 16:37.
Cutera Genesis Plus Laser
Research in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment reported that the Cutera Genesis Plus Laser achieved a foot wart removal clearance rate of approximately 94% after an average of three Cutera laser treatment sessions.
References : Han TY, Lee JH, Lee CK, Ahn JY, Seo SJ, Hong CK. Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of Warts: Report on a Series of 369 Cases. Journal of Korean Medical Science. 2009;24(5):889-893. doi:10.3346/jkms.2009.24.5.889
2. Mechanism of Energy Delivery
Cutera Genesis Plus Laser
The Cutera Genesis Plus laser delivers a high-intensity burst of energy in a very short time frame. It uses a 1064 nm ND:YAG wavelength to penetrate deep into the skin, targeting the vascular supply of warts.
The energy delivered by the Cutera Genesis Plus laser is high, concentrated and focused. It delivers energy pulses in a little as 6 milliseconds (0.006 seconds), ensuring rapid and precise heating of the wart tissue. This high-intensity, short duration burst of energy leads to the coagulation of blood vessels feeding the wart, effectively destroying the wart tissue and removing warts from feet.
Swift Microwave Wart Therapy
The Swift machine delivers microwave energy to target and treat foot warts. This energy is delivered gradually over a period of several seconds, allowing the microwave energy to penetrate the wart and tissue to generate heat, which contributes to the destruction of the wart. It rapidly heats the infected tissue to 42-45ºC over 2 seconds and this is then repeated 3-5 times.
3. Pain and discomfort
Cutera Genesis Plus Laser
While the Cutera Genesis Plus laser treatment can be painful, the discomfort is brief due to the rapid 6 millisecond pulse. This short duration limits the exposure time, reducing the overall pain experienced by the patient compared to longer plantar wart treatments.
Swift Microwave Therapy
Swift therapy involves a few seconds of energy delivery, which can cause significant discomfort. Often this is repeated multiple times and the prolonged exposure to heat can be more painful for patients, making the treatment experience less tolerable.
4. Total Energy Delivery
Energy delivery plays a significant role in both the comfort level experienced by patients and the overall effectiveness of wart treatment. While lower energy levels may offer comfort advantages, high energy delivery, as seen in advanced laser systems like the Cutera Genesis Plus, provides precision, control and often faster treatment times contributing to superior outcomes in plantar wart removal.
The energy delivered by the Swift microwave therapy is lower when compared to the Cutera Genesis Plus. In the short pulses, used by the Cutera Genesis Plus, it can lead to precise and targeted destruction of wart tissue. The deeper penetration and rapid energy deposition can make them highly effective in treating foot warts, especially stubborn or deep-seated ones.
The information below shows the comparison of energy delivered by both the Swift Microwave devices and the Cutera Genesis Plus Laser Systems.
Swift Microwave Therapy
The Swift microwave machine typically delivers energy in the form of microwave pulses to treat plantar warts.
Power Output : The swift machine typically operates around 8 watts.
Pulse Duration : A common pulse duration for the Swift machine is 2 seconds
Energy (in joules) is calculated by multiplying the power (in watts) by the time in seconds):
Energy (J) = Power (W) x Time (s)
Total Energy = 8 W x 2 s = 16 Joules
Disadvantages
The total energy delivered per pulse by the Swift (in this example) is 16 Joules but this is done over a 2 seconds. Multiple pulses maybe applied during a single treatment session but this can be more uncomfortable for the patient compared to the Cutera Genesis Plus Laser which is delivered in 0.006 seconds.
Cutera Genesis Plus Laser
To calculate the total energy delivered by the Cutera Genesis Plus laser, the energy density and the size of the treatment spot is required. In this example we will use a 5mm size wart on a foot.
Energy Density: 195 J/cm2
Treatment Spot Size : 5mm in diameter
Energy (J) = Energy Density (J/cm2) x Area (cm2)
Energy = 190 J/cm2 x 0.196cm2
Total Energy = 38.22 joules
Advantages
Despite the intensity of the Cutera Genesis Plus laser, the brief duration of energy delivery means patients endure pain for a much shorter time, improving the overall treatment experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion the Cutera Genesis Plus laser has deeper penetration, precision, higher clearance rates, especially for stubborn or deep-seated plantar warts and less sessions are required when compared to Swift Microwave Therapy.
The rapid energy delivery and precise targeting of the Cutera Genesis Plus Laser can result in shorter treatment times and potentially fewer sessions needed for complete warts on feet removal. The treatment sessions with the swift microwave may require multiple pulses over a longer duration.
The Cutera Genesis Plus Laser not only has a shorter pulse duration but also tends to be significantly less painful compared to Swift Microwave Therapy.
We hope that this information helps patients make an informed decision about their plantar wart treatment options.
To Remove A Wart On Foot – Book A Laser Appointment
Entire Podiatry offer plantar wart treatment using the GenesisPlus laser system at three of our clinics – Creek Street in Brisbane City, Northlakes and the Gold Coast at Robina.
For more information or to enquire about making an appointment, please contact the clinics below:
- Book online at Brisbane CBD clinic or call 07 3229 9959
- Book online at Northlakes clinic or call 07 3491 6099
- Book online at Gold Coast clinic or call 07 5503 6399
Read more about the Cutera GenesisPlus Laser
