Facial Wart Removal

A wart (literally translated as “growth”) is a benign tumour-like formation on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts develop as a result of a viral attack on the basal layer of the epidermis.

Causes of facial warts:

• contact with HPV;
• micro-injuries and scratches (which create better conditions for the virus to penetrate);
• weakened immunity (compromised by certain medications, illnesses, or stress, the immune system is less able to fight the virus);
• genetics (some people may be more susceptible to HPV infection and wart development).

Visiting public places such as swimming pools, showers, and changing rooms, where the skin may come into contact with infected surfaces, also significantly increases the risk of developing warts.

Warts have a rough texture and can come in various shapes: flat, convex, or with a bumpy surface. They can be of different colours: from almost skin-coloured to brown and grey.

Common locations for warts:

• hands, fingers;
• feet;
• face, neck;
• genital and anal area.

There are over a hundred strains of the human papillomavirus. Not all of them, but some can trigger wart formation. However, all warts, regardless of type, appear as a result of HPV infection of the skin.

The following types can form in the face and neck area:

• common warts (have a rough or coarse surface and can vary in size. They most often appear on the hands, fingers, and face);
• flat warts (have a smooth or slightly uneven surface and are often smaller compared to common warts. They can be flat or slightly raised above the skin);
• filiform warts (have a thread-like structure and look like small hairs. They often appear around the eyes, chin, and neck).

Complications caused by warts:

1. Aesthetic concerns (growths are unsightly, especially when located on the face).
2. Discomfort (depending on the size and location, warts can cause unpleasant sensations, especially if they are subjected to friction or pressure).
3. Virus spread (HPV can be transmitted to other people, especially through direct contact with warts: via touching, shared household items).
4. Complications (sometimes warts can cause complications such as inflammation or bleeding, especially if they are subjected to trauma).

Many patients are reassured by the thought that warts are benign growths that do not pose a major threat. However, it is important to remember that all growths have tumour progression — the tendency to grow. Cells can divide, change their shape, and invade (penetrate). Therefore, any growth requires at least observation and monitoring. At Dr. Osadchiy’s Dental Clinic, we recommend facial wart removal and removal of other growths — this measure is guaranteed to eliminate both actual and potential problems.

Warts can be divided into eight different types. The appearance of a particular type of wart is determined by specific HPV strains. In practice, common or flat warts caused by HPV types 2 and 4 are most frequently encountered.

Flat facial warts have a round shape, rough surface, and a natural colour close to the skin tone. Removal of flat facial warts can be performed through destruction, chemical, or surgical methods.

Patients often hesitate to have warts removed and prefer treatment of facial warts. However, the use of topical medications rarely produces the desired effect, and these experiments are particularly dangerous when dealing with growths on the face. Therefore, we recommend that our patients not waste energy, time, and money on ineffective creams, ointments, and solutions.

A facial wart can be removed surgically. The choice of instruments for such removal depends on the clinical picture and the patient’s wishes.

1. Radiowave method

Suitable for removing warts of various types. After the procedure, a blister remains that requires a relatively long healing period.

2. Cryodestruction (liquid nitrogen)

This method also involves the formation of a blister whose integrity must not be compromised. A significant disadvantage of this technique is that warts are not always successfully destroyed by nitrogen on the first attempt.

3. Laser removal

The fastest and most effective method. Removal is performed down to healthy tissue, without risk of infection. The wound is coagulated (a crust forms) and heals quite quickly.

4. Surgical excision

A facial wart can also be removed with a scalpel. In this case, avoiding the appearance of a keloid scar will be impossible. As a rule, maxillofacial surgeons use a scalpel for removing facial growths only when other methods cannot be applied. There are types of tumours that cannot be removed with a laser or liquid nitrogen.

At Dr. Osadchiy’s Dental Clinic, we prefer to use a laser for facial wart removal. It is a controlled, gentle, fast, and effective method that does not require a long recovery period and ensures good aesthetics. The mark at the site of the removed wart will be virtually invisible, and will eventually be covered by blood vessels and disappear.

The cost of laser facial wart removal includes the cost of anaesthesia and single-use laser tips. It should be understood that the total procedure cost is determined based on the number and size of the warts. If several warts of different diameters need to be removed, multiple single-use tips will need to be used, which will increase the final cost.

We emphasise that many clinics in Kyiv and Ukraine offer facial growth removal services. It is very important that such operations are performed by a maxillofacial surgeon, as specialists in this field can not only perform the operation but also correctly differentiate the growth, and therefore choose the right technique or promptly refer the patient to an oncologist.

Papillomas and basal cell carcinomas

Warts are often confused with papillomas and basal cell carcinomas. The similarity between papillomas and warts is due to the fact that both growths arise from HPV infection. However, even a non-specialist can distinguish a papilloma from a wart. Papillomas are more often soft, but can also be hard, spherical formations on a thin stalk. Papillomas are benign tumours and can be removed by a maxillofacial surgeon rather than an oncologist.

Basal cell carcinoma is a tumour that arises in the basal layer of the epithelium and is associated with atypical division of epithelial cells. It is classified as malignant, although sometimes information can be found stating that basal cell carcinoma occupies an intermediate position between benign and malignant tumours. Basal cell carcinoma does not metastasise and is localised in the epithelial layer.

At Dr. Osadchiy’s Dental Clinic, we do not perform operations to remove malignant growths, but we can differentiate the growth and recommend the appropriate specialist.