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Fabienne Rottenberg, DPMUpper West Side PodiatryBook on Zocdoc

Plantar warts · SWIFT treatment

Plantar wart removal with SWIFT on the Upper West Side.

Plantar warts on the sole of the foot can hurt with every step and often return after home treatment. Dr. Rottenberg offers SWIFT, a microwave treatment that targets the wart without cutting the skin and without a dressing afterward, so you can walk normally when you leave.

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Board-certified foot surgeon · FACFAS · Mount Sinai faculty · English, French, Hebrew & Spanish

Podiatrist examining a patient’s foot
SWIFT microwave therapyNo cutting · No dressing

Information from the practice of Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and Clinical Instructor in Orthopedics at Mount Sinai. Updated . This page is general information, not a diagnosis.

Book a visit if…

  • A painful spot on the sole of your foot
  • Over-the-counter treatments have not worked
  • The wart keeps coming back or is spreading
  • Your child has a wart that hurts or is spreading

Call the office first if…

  • You have diabetes or poor circulation
  • The spot is bleeding, changing shape or growing fast
  • You are not sure it is a wart
  • The area is red, swollen or draining

Wart, corn or callus?

A painful spot on the sole is not always a wart.

Plantar warts are caused by a virus that enters through small breaks in the skin. They often show tiny black dots and hurt when squeezed from the sides. Corns and calluses look similar but are caused by pressure, and they need different treatment. Dr. Rottenberg checks which one you have first.

How SWIFT works

SWIFT treats the wart without cutting.

SWIFT delivers microwave energy through a small probe placed on the wart for a few seconds. This targets the infected tissue and helps your immune system recognize the wart.

You feel brief, intense heat during each application, then it is over. The skin is not broken, so there is no dressing and no wound to care for. Most people walk out and go back to work, school or exercise the same day.

Most warts need a few short treatments spaced several weeks apart. Dr. Rottenberg will set your schedule at the first visit.

Your options

Plantar wart treatment options

SWIFT is the main option for many patients. Others can be used alone or with it.

SWIFT microwave therapy

Targets the wart with no cutting, no blistering wound and no dressing.

Debridement

Gently removing the thick skin over the wart, which eases pain and helps treatment work.

Prescription topical treatment

Stronger medicine than store-bought products, applied at home between visits.

Children’s wart care

Warts are common in children. Dr. Rottenberg chooses a treatment that suits your child’s age and comfort.

Dr. Fabienne Rottenberg

Who treats you

Dr. Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, FACFAS

  • Offers SWIFT in the office. Not every Manhattan practice does
  • Confirms it is a wart, not a corn or callus, before treating
  • Treats adults and children
  • Board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery

Telehealth available: some questions and follow-ups can be handled by video. Ask when you call.

Training, credentials and hospital affiliations

285 West End Ave at 73rd St · Mon–Thu, 9–5

Get rid of a painful plantar wart.

Find out if it is a wart, and start SWIFT treatment at your first visit when it is the right fit.

Call (212) 724-4457 Book on Zocdoc

Questions patients ask

Plantar Warts & SWIFT: common questions.

Your own answer depends on an in-person exam. Call the office if your question is not here.

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Does SWIFT hurt?

You feel a brief, intense heat for a few seconds during each application. It stops as soon as the probe is lifted. No numbing injection is usually needed.

How many SWIFT treatments will I need?

Most warts need a few treatments spaced several weeks apart. The number depends on the size, number and age of the warts.

Can I exercise after treatment?

Yes. There is no open wound or dressing, so most people return to normal activity the same day.

Is SWIFT safe for children?

SWIFT is used for children as well as adults, but some young children prefer a gentler option. Dr. Rottenberg will discuss what suits your child’s age and comfort.

Will the wart come back?

Warts can return because they are caused by a virus. Treating all warts at once and keeping feet covered in gyms and pools lowers the risk.

Does insurance cover wart treatment?

Coverage varies by plan and by treatment. Call the office with your plan name and we will help you check before your visit.

Related care

Other problems Dr. Rottenberg treats

Toenail Fungus & Laser

Toenail fungus treatment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side: laser, prescription medicine and Keryflex nail restoration from podiatrist Dr.

Read more

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenail treatment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Read more

Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis

Evaluation and treatment for heel and arch pain.

Read more

Sources

Further reading from medical organizations

  • Warts — American Podiatric Medical Association
  • Warts — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think you have an emergency, call 911.

Plantar Warts & SWIFT · Upper West Side

Get rid of a painful plantar wart.

Call (212) 724-4457Contact the practice