Quick facts
– What: Swift, an in-office microwave treatment for common and plantar warts, offered at Kalmar Family Podiatry.
– Where: 62 Green Street, Huntington, NY 11743 (Long Island, Suffolk County).
– Book: call (631) 549-0955 or request a visit at kalmarfamilypodiatry.com/appointments/ (staff confirm by phone).
– Same-day: the practice’s about page says it offers same-day appointments. Hours: Mon & Thu 9–7, Tue & Wed 9–5, Fri 9–4; weekends: confirm with the office.
– Insurance: “Kalmar Family Podiatry accepts most major government and private insurance plans.” Call to check your plan’s coverage for Swift.
What is Swift wart treatment?
Direct answer: Swift is an FDA-cleared device that delivers a short, precise dose of microwave energy into a wart through a handheld probe. Kalmar Family Podiatry offers it in Huntington, NY for warts on the feet.
Swift is made by Emblation. FDA records list the Swift System under 510(k) K181941 (2018). In August 2025, FDA cleared Swift and swiftPro under K250718 with a specific indication: treatment of common and plantar warts. The labeling states it is not indicated for genital warts (FDA K250718; FDA K181941). FDA clearance means the device was found substantially equivalent to devices already on the market for that use. It is not a promise about any one person’s results.
How does Swift work?
Direct answer: The probe touches the wart and delivers microwave energy for a few seconds. The heat triggers a local “heat shock” response that helps the immune system recognize and attack the HPV-infected tissue.
General information: warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which enters through tiny breaks in the skin (MedlinePlus). Freezing and acid destroy or peel away the wart from the surface. Swift instead heats the wart tissue to a controlled depth, and the practice’s current page describes it as working by signaling the body’s immune response. Because the energy is delivered directly into the wart, no dressing is usually needed afterward.
Who is Swift for?
Direct answer: Swift is cleared for common and plantar warts, including stubborn plantar warts that haven’t cleared with other treatments. A Kalmar Family Podiatry podiatrist decides at a consultation whether it suits you.
Tell your podiatrist if any of these apply. The FDA summary for K250718 says safety and effectiveness were not established for people excluded from the trial, including:
– pregnancy or breastfeeding
– diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or peripheral vascular disease
– immune-suppressing illness or medication, or autoimmune disease
– taking prescribed blood thinners
– an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
– metal implants at the treatment site
– mosaic warts, or warts present for more than 5 years
The same summary also lists treatment areas where safety wasn’t established, such as thin or sensitive skin, or inflamed skin. If any of these apply, your podiatrist can discuss other wart treatments the practice offers.
Can children have Swift?
Direct answer: Kalmar Family Podiatry treats children and lists pediatric care, but the minimum age for Swift is for the office to confirm. Call (631) 549-0955 to ask about your child.
General information: many children’s warts go away on their own over time, so waiting, an at-home acid product, freezing, and Swift are all reasonable options to discuss. The right choice depends on whether the wart hurts or spreads, and how well your child can sit through a treatment. The FDA trial’s average participant age was 38.7 years, so the summary doesn’t speak specifically to young children.
How many Swift sessions will I need?
Direct answer: Usually more than one. The practice says multiple sessions may be recommended depending on the wart, with follow-up visits to check progress. Each application lasts only a few seconds.
Your podiatrist sets the number and spacing of sessions after examining the wart. Larger, thicker, older, or clustered (mosaic) warts may need more visits. Bring a list of treatments you’ve already tried.
Does Swift hurt?
Direct answer: Most people feel a brief, sharp heat or sting for a few seconds per application, which fades quickly. The practice says most patients have only mild discomfort.
Published finding (FDA summary, K250718): 10 minutes after the first treatment, 90% of participants treated with Swift reported no pain, compared with 62% treated with cryotherapy. Swift continued to be less painful than cryotherapy at later sessions (FDA K250718 summary). These are trial results, not a promise about any individual’s experience.
What is the aftercare for Swift?
Direct answer: Usually none beyond normal hygiene. No dressing is needed, and you can return to normal activities right away, per the practice.
- Some people feel mild warmth, tingling, or tenderness that fades quickly (practice page).
- Keep the area clean and dry. Don’t pick at the wart.
- Wear shoes in public showers, locker rooms, and pools, and don’t share shoes, socks, or towels (practice warts page).
- Keep your follow-up appointments so the podiatrist can track progress.
- Call the office if you notice spreading redness, swelling, pus, or worsening pain.
How does Swift compare with freezing, acid, and laser?
Direct answer: All four are wart treatments the practice offers in some form. Swift uses microwave heat with no dressing; freezing uses liquid nitrogen and often blisters; acid peels the wart over weeks at home; laser destroys tissue with light energy. In the FDA trial, Swift and freezing cleared warts at similar overall rates, and Swift caused less pain.
| Swift (microwave) | Cryotherapy (freezing) | Salicylic acid | Laser | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Microwave heat + immune response | Liquid nitrogen freezes tissue | Peels wart layers | Light energy destroys tissue |
| Where | In office | In office | Mostly at home (prescription-strength available) | In office |
| Time per treatment | Seconds per application | Short | Daily over weeks | Varies |
| Dressing afterward | Usually none (practice page) | Blistering common | None | Varies |
| Published evidence | FDA trial: overall clearance 38.8% Swift vs 38.6% cryotherapy at 3 months (non-inferiority not established); plantar warts 48.0% vs 36.4%; fewer side effects with Swift (FDA summary) | Comparator in the FDA trial; the Cochrane review found it not clearly more effective than salicylic acid (Cochrane 2012) | Cochrane review: supported as a treatment option with evidence of benefit (Cochrane 2012) | Limited comparative evidence (general information) |
| At Kalmar Family Podiatry | Yes | Yes | Prescription topicals | Yes |
Evidence strength: early, low to moderate. Most data come from small or uncontrolled studies. A 2025 randomized placebo-controlled trial in treatment-resistant warts found complete clearance in 27% (3 of 11) with Swift vs 0% with sham (PubMed 39786636). These are published study results, not this practice’s results.
The practice also offers cantharidin, immunotherapy, and surgical excision for warts (practice warts page).
What is the difference between plantar warts and common warts?
Direct answer: Both are caused by HPV. Plantar warts grow on the soles and are pushed inward by walking, so they’re often flat, covered by hard skin, and painful when you stand. Common warts are raised, rough bumps, usually on the hands or toes.
| Plantar wart | Common wart | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Sole of the foot | Hands, fingers, tops of toes |
| Look | Flat, hard skin over it, tiny black dots | Raised, rough, cauliflower-like |
| Feels | Pain when walking or standing | Usually painless |
| Swift FDA indication | Yes (K250718) | Yes (K250718) |
| Sources: practice warts page; MedlinePlus. What looks like a callus may actually be a wart, a point the practice’s callus page also makes, so an exam helps. |
How much does Swift cost, and does insurance cover it?
Direct answer: Cost and coverage depend on your plan and how many sessions you need. Call Kalmar Family Podiatry at (631) 549-0955 to check before treatment.
The practice’s insurance page says it “accepts most major government and private insurance plans.” Coverage for a specific wart treatment varies by plan.
Where can I get Swift wart treatment near Huntington, Long Island?
Direct answer: Kalmar Family Podiatry, 62 Green Street, Huntington, NY 11743, offers Swift. Call (631) 549-0955.
The practice serves Huntington, Huntington Station, Northport, Cold Spring Harbor, Greenlawn, and surrounding Long Island communities in Suffolk County. Its four podiatrists (DPMs) are Dr. Matthew S. Kalmar, Dr. Garrett J. Kalmar, Dr. Lauren Fisher, and Dr. Nicholas DiScala. Dr. Garrett Kalmar’s bio notes fellowship training in podiatric dermatology and dermatopathology.
Book a Swift consultation
Call (631) 549-0955 or request an appointment at kalmarfamilypodiatry.com/appointments/. Staff confirm requests by phone. Please don’t send health details through the web form.
Swift FAQ
Is Swift FDA-cleared for plantar warts?
Yes. FDA 510(k) K250718 (August 2025) clears Swift and swiftPro for treatment of common and plantar warts.
Is Swift the same as laser treatment?
No. Swift uses microwave energy; lasers use light energy. The practice offers both.
Does Swift leave a scar?
The practice’s page says Swift targets only the affected tissue, which reduces the risk of scarring. Individual results vary.
Can I walk and work after Swift?
Yes. Per the practice, you can resume normal activities right away, and no dressing is needed.
How long is a Swift appointment?
Each application lasts a few seconds. The visit also includes an exam, and possibly trimming the hard skin over the wart. Ask the office how long to plan for.
How many sessions does Swift take?
Usually several. Your podiatrist sets the plan based on the wart.
Does Swift work on mosaic warts?
The FDA summary says safety and effectiveness were not established for mosaic warts. Your podiatrist can discuss options.
Can people with diabetes or neuropathy have Swift?
These groups were excluded from the FDA trial, so safety and effectiveness weren’t established. The podiatrist will advise. The practice offers other wart treatments.
Is Swift safe with a pacemaker or defibrillator?
People with implanted defibrillators were excluded from the trial. Tell the podiatrist about any implanted device before treatment.
Can I treat a plantar wart at home first?
General information: over-the-counter salicylic acid is a common first step that the Cochrane review supports. If it hurts, spreads, or doesn’t clear, or if you have diabetes or poor circulation, see a podiatrist.
Are warts contagious?
General information: yes, HPV can spread by direct contact or on damp surfaces such as shower floors (MedlinePlus).
Will the wart come back after Swift?
Warts can come back with any treatment. The practice schedules follow-ups to monitor progress, and prevention tips are listed above.
What age can children have Swift?
The office will confirm the minimum age. Call (631) 549-0955.
Is Swift covered by Medicare or my insurance?
Coverage varies. Call (631) 549-0955 to check your plan.
Sources: Kalmar Family Podiatry pages (Swift, warts, callus, insurance, providers, about, contact), fetched 2026-10-13; FDA 510(k) K181941 and K250718 records and the K250718 decision summary; Kwok CS et al., “Topical treatments for cutaneous warts,” Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 (PubMed 22972052); MedlinePlus.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment require a visit with a clinician. In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital.