Swift wart therapy at FALL

Swift is a microwave treatment for warts, including plantar warts (verrucae) on the soles of the feet. At Foot Ankle Lower Limb we use it for warts that are painful, spreading, or haven't cleared with simpler treatments. Here's how it works, what it feels like, and how well it works.

What are plantar warts?

Warts are caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). It spreads through skin contact and from surfaces such as pool decks and change room floors.¹ On the sole of the foot, your body weight pushes the wart into the skin, so it's often flat, and it can hurt when you walk.¹

Many warts go away on their own. In children, about half disappear within 6 months, and almost all within 2 years.¹ Adults often take longer. So not every wart needs treatment. But plantar warts can be stubborn and painful, and the usual treatments, such as wart paints and freezing, clear only about 1 in 3 plantar warts.²

How does it work?

Swift sends a short burst of microwave energy into the wart through a small probe held against the skin. The energy heats the water in the infected skin cells to a precise depth.³ This heat is thought to "wake up" your immune system so it recognises the virus and fights it.²,³

Microwaves are a non-ionising type of energy, so they're not the kind of radiation used in x-rays.³ The skin isn't cut or broken.⁴

What is it like?

Your podiatrist usually trims away the hard skin over the wart first. Each application lasts a couple of seconds. Most people find it quite painful for those few seconds, often described as an intense hot or stinging feeling. The pain fades quickly, usually by the time you leave the clinic.⁴ No anaesthetic injection is needed.

Afterwards there's no open wound and no dressing,³,⁴ and you can get on with your day.

Does it work?

For many people it works well. More than 8 in 10 plantar warts clear with microwave treatment, most after two to three sessions four weeks apart.⁴ Treatment didn't leave scars, and younger people tended to respond better.⁴

The evidence is promising but still early. Most studies are small and didn't compare Swift with other treatments in the same group of people, so we can't yet say it's better than everything else.²,⁴ Some warts don't clear, and we'll tell you if it isn't working.

Who can have it?

Swift suits most adults, and children old enough to cope with a few seconds of discomfort. Your podiatrist will check your health history first. It isn't used if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have metal implants in your foot or ankle, or in very young children.⁴ We'll also take extra care if you have reduced feeling in your feet or poor circulation, and we'll discuss this at your first visit.

What to expect at FALL

At your first appointment we'll confirm that the lesion is a wart and not a corn or something else, talk about your options, and give the first treatment if Swift suits you. Most people need a few sessions about four weeks apart.

See a doctor or podiatrist about a wart if it's painful, spreading, looks infected, or you have a weakened immune system.¹ If you have diabetes, get any foot lesion checked rather than treating it yourself.

To find out if Swift could help your warts, book an appointment.

References

1. healthdirect Australia (2025). How to treat warts. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/wart-treatments
2. Bristow I (2022). Paediatric cutaneous warts and verrucae: an update. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16400. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416400
3. Bristow IR, Webb C, Ardern-Jones MR (2017). The successful use of a novel microwave device in the treatment of a plantar wart. Case Reports in Dermatology, 9(2), 102–107. https://doi.org/10.1159/000477377
4. Hagon W, Hagon J, Noble G, et al. (2023). Microwave therapy for the treatment of plantar warts. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 16, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-023-00638-8

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, Podiatrist, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod. Last reviewed October 2026.