Clear a stubborn verruca at the root, not just the surface
Swift® Microwave Therapy · Verruca Treatment
Swift is a modern microwave therapy that delivers a precise dose of energy into the skin to prompt your own immune system to clear the verruca virus. Fast sessions, no dressings, no downtime.
What is Swift microwave therapy?
Swift is a podiatry treatment, developed in the UK, that uses tightly controlled microwave energy to treat verrucae and warts on the feet and hands. A small handheld probe is placed on the skin and delivers energy to a precise depth, heating the infected tissue for a couple of seconds at a time.
A verruca is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) settling in the top layers of the skin. Ordinary treatments try to burn, freeze or peel that tissue away from the outside. Swift takes a different route: the burst of heat prompts a local immune response, alerting your body to an infection it has been quietly tolerating so it can recognise the virus and clear it from within. That is why Swift is often effective on long-standing verrucae that have resisted everything else.
Precise heat, a healing response, a cleared virus
STEP 01
Targeted energy
Microwaves excite the water molecules inside the infected cells, raising the temperature to a controlled depth without breaking the skin surface — so no open wound is created.
STEP 02
Immune signal
The heat releases harmless heat-shock proteins and viral fragments. This flags the HPV infection to your immune system, which most treatments never do.
STEP 03
Natural clearance
Your body mounts its own response, recognising and clearing the virus over the following weeks — tackling the cause rather than only the visible lump.
Swift versus traditional verruca treatments
Verrucae are notoriously stubborn, and many people arrive at the clinic having already tried freezing, acids or over-the-counter kits without success. Here is how the main options line up.
| Treatment | How it works | Sessions | Dressings / downtime | Targets the virus? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift microwave therapy | Precise heat triggers an immune response to clear HPV | Usually 3 | None | Yes — at the root |
| Cryotherapy (freezing) | Liquid nitrogen freezes and blisters the tissue | Multiple | Blistering, aftercare | Surface only |
| Salicylic acid | Acid peels away the affected skin in layers | Weeks–months, daily | Daily home routine | Surface only |
| Needling (Falknor's) | Micro-punctures provoke an immune response | Often 1, under anaesthetic | Wound, dressings | Yes |
| Laser / surgical removal | Burns or cuts away the visible verruca | 1+ | Wound, recovery time | Surface only |
What the research shows
Clinical research published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research reported that more than eight in ten verrucas resolved after a course of Swift treatment — encouraging results for a condition long considered difficult to shift.
83%+
Verrucae resolved after a course of Swift microwave therapy in published research.
~45%
Typical clearance reported for cryotherapy in comparative trials — considerably lower.
~14%
Clearance reported for salicylic acid in a large UK randomised trial (the EVerT study).
*Figures are drawn from published clinical studies of these treatments. Individual results vary depending on the verruca, how long it has been present and your general health.
The benefits of Swift at a glance
No dressings or wound care
Because the skin surface stays intact, there is nothing to clean, cover or change at home between visits — unlike needling or cryotherapy.
No anaesthetic, no downtime
Treatment takes seconds per verruca. Put your shoes back on and carry on with your day straight away.
Precise and skin-sparing
Energy reaches only the depth required, leaving surrounding healthy tissue untouched and avoiding scarring.
Tackles the cause
By recruiting your immune system, Swift addresses the underlying HPV infection rather than just the visible lump — which helps reduce recurrence.
Effective on stubborn cases
Multiple lesions in one visit
Your treatment journey, step by step
Appointment 1
Assessment and first treatment
Your podiatrist confirms the diagnosis, checks you are suitable, and lightly reduces the surface if needed. Then 3–5 short microwave bursts are applied. You may feel a brief, sharp heat that settles quickly.
~4 weeks later
Second treatment
The verruca may look similar in size — this is expected, as Swift reduces the lesion by depth first. Some dark spotting beneath the skin is a normal sign the process is working.
~8 weeks
Third treatment
For most people this is the final treatment session, though your podiatrist will advise based on how your verruca is responding.
~12 weeks
Review
A follow-up to check resolution. Stubborn cases may be offered further sessions to push the success rate higher.
Who Swift is suitable for
A good option if you…
- Have a verruca that will not clear on its own
- Have tried freezing, acids or home kits without success
- Want a treatment with no dressings and no downtime
- Have several verrucae or a large lesion
Check with us first if you…
- Have a pacemaker or implanted electronic device
- Have metal implants near the treatment site
- Have reduced sensation or poor circulation in the feet
- Are pregnant, or are treating a young child
Not sure which camp you fall into? A short assessment at the clinic will settle it, and we will always recommend a gentler alternative if Swift is not the best fit for you.
Swift verruca treatment FAQs
Does Swift verruca treatment hurt?
Most people feel a short, sharp heat sensation for two to three seconds during each burst, similar to an injection. It settles quickly, and no anaesthetic or dressing is needed afterwards.
How many Swift treatments will I need?
Most verrucae respond within three sessions spaced about four weeks apart, followed by a review around twelve weeks after the final treatment. Stubborn or long-standing lesions may need further sessions.
How is Swift different from cryotherapy or acid treatments?
Cryotherapy and acids treat the visible tissue from the outside, often with dressings, blistering and inconsistent results. Swift heats the infected tissue to a precise depth without breaking the skin and works by prompting your immune system to clear the virus — addressing the cause rather than just the surface.
Is there any downtime after Swift treatment?
No. There are no open wounds or dressings, so you can put your shoes on and return to normal daily activities straight away.
Who is not suitable for Swift treatment?
Swift may not be suitable if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, metal implants near the treatment site, reduced sensation or poor circulation in the feet, or if you are pregnant. Your podiatrist will check your suitability at assessment.
Ready to deal with that verruca for good?
Book a verruca assessment in Long Eaton and find out whether Swift microwave therapy is the right treatment for you. Honest advice, evidence-based care.