Plantar Wart Surgery Recovery

Plantar wart surgery is normally the last resort in removing plantar warts 2. While the surgery is usually quick and simple and the recovery is typically just as quick and simple, there is no guarantee that the plantar warts will not come back 12. Following some simple guidelines will ensure that your recovery is as smooth as possible.

Time Frame

Plantar warts typically occur on the foot 2. You will be able to walk on your foot immediately after surgery 1. You will probably be administered a local anesthetic before surgery, so you will not feel pain in your foot until several hours after surgery, but you will still probably want to put as little weight as possible on your foot to minimize soreness later 1.

Your doctor will likely advise you to rest for at least a couple of days to allow your foot to heal properly. During this time, change the dressings on your surgery site often, especially on the first day of recovery 1. The goal is to keep the area as clean as possible, which will minimize the chance of infection. Infection may cause complications that will extend your recovery time. Most patients are able to return to normal activities within three or four days after surgery, and the area should completely heal in less than a month 2.

Most doctors will ask you to return to the office for a follow-up appointment shortly after surgery. At this appointment, the doctor will check to make sure that you are healing properly and recovering at a good pace. The doctor will also check to make sure that the warts aren't coming back and that you won't need another surgery 2.

Pain and Scarring

Pain is the main complaint of patients during recovery. The first day, you will probably experience some pain around the surgery site from the incision that the doctor made, as well as from where the local anesthetic was injected. If you are concerned about this pain, ask your doctor whether you will be prescribed pain medications. If not, ask whether it will be safe for you to take over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin or NSAIDs (acetaminophen or naproxen sodium). These should help reduce your pain significantly.

You may have scarring after surgery. Because these scars are often on the bottom of the foot and raised, some patients even find the scars painful. You should discuss your concerns about scarring with your doctor before the surgery. Many doctors can estimate whether or not the patient will experience scarring before they even do the surgery. If your doctor thinks you may have a scar, ask what you can do to minimize the scar and what to do if you find the scar painful. Some over-the-counter creams can help significantly minimize scars.