Dermatology: Wart Removal

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Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center  ·  Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Los Angeles Wart Removal

Expert treatment of facial and body warts, molluscum by a trusted board-certified dermatologist. Vbeam laser therapy for warts, cryotherapy, surgical excision, and wart ablation in Los Angeles

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Expertiseboard-Certified Dermatologist
Vbeam Laserlaser wart removal
Surgerywart excision
PediatricWarts & Molluscum Treated
Los Angeles Wart Removal Specialistsanta monica office

Expert Wart Treatment

 

Wart Removal in Los Angeles: Medical Expertise. Proven Technology. Complete Care.

Warts are among the most common dermatologic conditions treated in Los Angeles — affecting millions of adults and children each year and ranging from cosmetically bothersome to functionally debilitating. Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), warts are contagious, persistent, and notoriously resistant to over-the-counter treatments. While many patients spend months applying salicylic acid preparations with minimal results, a board-certified dermatologist can deliver targeted, medically supervised treatments that eradicate warts far more effectively and with significantly fewer sessions.

At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Santa Monica, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro offers a comprehensive, multimodal approach to wart and molluscum removal — combining the precision of Vbeam pulsed-dye laser therapy, the established efficacy of cryotherapy, the immediate resolution of surgical excision and curettage, and the targeted power of cantharidin and chemical ablation. This full spectrum of dermatologic wart treatments, available under one roof in Santa Monica, allows Dr. Sierro to match the most effective modality to each patient’s specific wart type, location, skin type, and prior treatment history.

Patients seeking wart removal throughout the greater Los Angeles area — from Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, Culver City, West Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley — choose Dr. Sierro for her medical expertise, her access to cutting-edge laser technology including the Vbeam laser, and her approach to wart treatment as a medical problem requiring physician-level diagnosis and management rather than a cosmetic inconvenience.

Conditions Treated by Dr. Sierro

  • Common warts (Verruca vulgaris) — hands, fingers, knees
  • Plantar warts (Verruca plantaris) — bottom of the feet
  • Flat warts (Verruca plana) — face, arms, legs
  • Periungual warts — around and under fingernails and toenails
  • Filiform warts — face, eyelids, neck
  • Genital warts (Condyloma acuminata) — HPV-related growths
  • Molluscum contagiosum — viral poxvirus infection in children and adults
  • Recurrent and treatment-resistant warts failed elsewhere
  • Warts in immunocompromised patients requiring specialized care
  • Viral skin infections with secondary bacterial involvement
  • Wart-associated scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Meet Your Dermatologist

 

Dr. Tiffany Sierro: Board-Certified Dermatologist Provides Expertise in Wart Removal in Los Angeles

Dr. Tiffany Sierro is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Santa Monica, where she provides expert diagnosis and treatment of the full spectrum of medical and cosmetic skin conditions. Her board certification by the American Board of Dermatology reflects the highest standard of dermatologic training — a rigorous pathway that encompasses medical dermatology, surgical dermatology, dermatopathology, and laser medicine. 

Dr. Sierro’s approach to wart and molluscum treatment is grounded in a fundamental clinical truth: these are viral infections, not merely cosmetic growths. Effective, durable wart removal requires accurate diagnosis of the lesion type, an understanding of the patient’s immune status and HPV exposure history, selection of the treatment modality most appropriate to the anatomical location and wart characteristics, and a plan for managing recurrence. This clinical depth is what separates dermatologist-supervised wart removal from the freezing sticks and acid patches sold at a pharmacy.

At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center, Dr. Sierro has access to one of the most advanced dermatologic treatment arsenals available in Santa Monica — including the Vbeam pulsed-dye laser, medical-grade cryotherapy equipment, a full surgical suite for excision and curettage under local anesthesia, and physician-grade chemical agents including cantharidin, trichloroacetic acid, and combination topical protocols. This multi-modality capability allows her to tailor treatment to each patient rather than applying a single technique to every wart presentation.

“Warts are caused by a virus — and treating them effectively means understanding the patient’s immune response, the behavior of the specific HPV strain, and selecting the treatment that targets both the visible lesion and the viral reservoir in the surrounding skin. That requires a physician’s training, not a technician’s protocol.”

— Kare Plastic Surgery

Dr. Sierro treats warts and molluscum in patients of all ages — from children with molluscum contagiosum acquired through daycare or swimming pools, to adults with persistent plantar warts, periungual warts around the fingernails, and treatment-resistant facial warts. She also manages genital warts (condylomata acuminata) with the discretion and clinical thoroughness that a diagnosis related to HPV deserves, including counseling on viral transmission, recurrence risk, and the relationship between HPV strains and cervical or anogenital cancer screening. Her practice at Kare serves as a destination for patients who have been treated repeatedly at other Los Angeles dermatology offices without achieving resolution. We specialize in complex, resistant, or recurrent wart cases that benefit from our access to multiple treatment modalities and our experts' ability to escalate to surgical management when indicated.

Diagnosis

 

Types of Warts & Viral Skin Infections Treated in Los Angeles

Accurate diagnosis of the wart type is the essential first step in any effective treatment plan. Not all raised skin growths are warts — and not all warts behave the same way or respond to the same treatments. Dr. Sierro examines each patient’s lesions clinically and, when necessary, performs dermoscopy or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis before initiating treatment.

Common Warts (Verruca Vulgaris)

The most prevalent wart type, common warts appear as dome-shaped, rough, grayish or skin-colored papules most frequently on the hands, fingers, knuckles, and knees. They are caused by HPV types 1, 2, 4, and 7 and are highly contagious through direct skin contact. Despite the name, common warts are frequently resistant to over-the-counter treatments and benefit from physician-supervised multimodal therapy.

Plantar Warts (Verruca Plantaris)

Growing on the weight-bearing surfaces of the feet, plantar warts are driven inward by pressure and can cause significant pain with walking or standing. They often develop characteristic black dots (thrombosed capillaries) visible on the surface and may coalesce into large mosaic plaques. Plantar warts require aggressive treatment, including Vbeam laser, cryotherapy, cantharidin, or surgical excision.

Flat Warts (Verruca Plana)

Flat warts are smooth, slightly elevated, skin-colored or pink papules that tend to appear in large numbers on the face, forehead, arms, and legs — particularly in children and young adults. Because they are small and numerous, flat warts require careful treatment planning to avoid scarring in cosmetically sensitive areas. Dr. Sierro’s Vbeam laser approach is particularly well-suited to flat warts on the face.

Periungual Warts

Periungual warts grow around and beneath the fingernails and toenails, where they can distort the nail plate, impair nail growth, and cause significant discomfort. They are notoriously difficult to treat because of their location beneath the nail fold and their tendency to recur. Surgical access and Vbeam laser are both employed by Dr. Sierro for periungual wart cases that have failed simpler approaches.

Filiform Warts

Filiform warts are thread-like or finger-like projections that grow rapidly on the face — particularly around the eyes, nose, lips, and beard area. While typically small, they are cosmetically distressing and can spread quickly with shaving or touching. Surgical snip excision or Vbeam laser are the preferred treatments for filiform warts, offering rapid resolution with minimal scarring.

Genital Warts (Condyloma Acuminata)

Genital warts are caused by sexually transmitted strains of HPV (most commonly types 6 and 11) and appear as soft, flesh-colored growths in the genital and perianal region. They require physician diagnosis to differentiate from other genital lesions, and treatment includes topical agents (imiquimod, podophyllin), cryotherapy, surgical removal, and Vbeam laser. Dr. Sierro manages genital wart patients with clinical thoroughness and complete discretion.

Molluscum Contagiosum

Caused by the molluscipoxvirus (a poxvirus unrelated to HPV), molluscum contagiosum presents as smooth, dome-shaped, flesh-colored papules with a characteristic central dimple (umbilication). Common in children and in sexually active adults, molluscum spreads through skin contact and by autoinoculation. Without treatment, lesions may persist for 6 months to 2 years. Dr. Sierro offers rapid, effective molluscum treatment with cryotherapy, Vbeam laser, cantharidin, and curettage.

Recurrent & Treatment-Resistant Warts

Some warts recur after apparently successful treatment due to residual HPV in the surrounding skin or impaired immune clearance of the virus. Patients with multiple failed treatment courses — at other Los Angeles practices or with self-directed therapies — are a frequent presentation at Kare. Dr. Sierro evaluates immune status, considers candida antigen immunotherapy or bleomycin injection for truly refractory cases, and provides a comprehensive escalation plan.

Treatment Modalities

 

Comprehensive Wart Removal Treatments 

Dr. Sierro’s wart treatment philosophy is evidence-based and individualized: she selects the modality — or combination of modalities — most likely to eradicate the specific wart type in the fewest sessions, with the lowest risk of scarring or recurrence. The following treatments are available at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Santa Monica.

01

Vbeam Pulsed-Dye Laser

The Vbeam pulsed-dye laser (PDL) is one of the most powerful and precise tools available for wart and molluscum removal in Los Angeles. Operating at a 595nm wavelength that is selectively absorbed by oxyhemoglobin, the Vbeam targets the network of blood vessels that supplies the wart with the nutrients and oxygen it needs to sustain viral replication. By thermally destroying this vascular supply, the Vbeam cuts off the wart’s life support — causing the lesion to die and slough off over the following 1–2 weeks.

The Vbeam is particularly valuable for warts that have failed cryotherapy or topical agents, for warts in cosmetically sensitive locations (face, hands, eyelid margins), for periungual warts where freezing risks nail damage, and for patients who cannot tolerate the discomfort of repeated cryotherapy sessions. Published data support pulsed-dye laser as one of the most effective treatments for recalcitrant warts, with clearance rates of up to 95% for palmar and plantar warts in some series. For molluscum contagiosum specifically, the Vbeam is widely considered the treatment of choice when multiple lesions require rapid resolution.

Best For: Resistant warts, facial warts, molluscum contagiosum, periungual warts, warts in children, palmar and plantar warts unresponsive to cryotherapy
02

Cryotherapy (Liquid Nitrogen)

Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is the most widely used and well-established in-office wart treatment in dermatology. Liquid nitrogen, applied to the wart via a spray device or cryoprobe at −196°C, induces rapid cell death within the wart tissue through ice crystal formation, disruption of cell membranes, and vascular stasis. The treated area blisters within 24–48 hours, and the wart tissue separates from the underlying skin as the blister resolves over 1–2 weeks.

In Dr. Sierro’s hands, cryotherapy is administered with precise control of the freeze time, thaw time, and number of freeze-thaw cycles — parameters that significantly influence efficacy and the risk of scarring. Aggressive, dermatologist-administered cryotherapy produces substantially better outcomes than the mild freezing available from over-the-counter products, which do not achieve the −50°C temperature required for reliable viral cell destruction. Most warts require 2–4 cryotherapy sessions at 2–3 week intervals for complete resolution.

Best For: Common warts, plantar warts, flat warts, molluscum contagiosum, and as a first-line treatment for most wart types across the body
03

Surgical Excision & Curettage

Surgical removal of warts under local anesthesia offers the most immediate and definitive resolution for appropriate wart presentations. Dr. Sierro performs both sharp excision (cutting out the wart and its base) and curettage (scraping the wart from the skin surface with a curette instrument), often combined with electrocautery (electrodesiccation) to destroy any residual HPV-infected tissue at the base of the treated area and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Surgical wart removal is particularly indicated for large, solitary warts that have failed other treatments; filiform warts, which can be cleanly snipped away in a single appointment; molluscum lesions in older patients who can tolerate the procedure; and warts where rapid, definitive resolution is medically or professionally important. The availability of surgical excision at Kare Plastic Surgery — in a fully equipped surgical suite, not a makeshift procedure room — reflects Dr. Sierro’s complete spectrum of dermatologic care at this facility.

Best For: Large solitary warts, filiform warts, treatment-resistant warts, molluscum requiring rapid clearance, and cases where single-session resolution is desired
04

Cantharidin (Cantharone)

Cantharidin is a blistering agent derived from the blister beetle that has been used in dermatology for wart and molluscum treatment for decades. Applied to the wart surface in the office as a precise, carefully dosed liquid preparation, cantharidin causes intraepidermal blistering within 24–48 hours — separating the wart from the underlying dermis and allowing it to be removed with the blister roof. The procedure is painless at the time of application (making it particularly valuable in pediatric patients), with discomfort developing as the blister forms.

Cantharidin is one of the most effective agents for molluscum contagiosum treatment — particularly in children, where it can treat multiple lesions rapidly and with significantly less discomfort than cryotherapy. For warts, it is most effective as a combination agent alongside cryotherapy or salicylic acid. FDA approval of cantharidin (Ycanth™) in 2023 has formalized this longstanding dermatologic practice with a standardized, regulated preparation.

Best For: Molluscum contagiosum (especially in children), warts resistant to cryotherapy, multiple warts requiring simultaneous treatment, patients who cannot tolerate cryotherapy discomfort
05

Chemical Ablation (TCA & Salicylic Acid)

Chemical ablation uses topical acids to progressively destroy wart tissue through chemical keratolysis. At Kare Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sierro employs physician-grade chemical agents including trichloroacetic acid (TCA), high-concentration salicylic acid, and combination preparations that are significantly more potent and precisely applied than anything available over the counter. TCA causes immediate protein coagulation and tissue destruction on contact, making it effective for flat warts, verruca plana, and warts in locations where more aggressive procedures may risk scarring.

Chemical ablation is frequently used by Dr. Sierro as part of a combination protocol — chemical treatment between office visits complements in-office cryotherapy or laser sessions, maintaining continuous pressure on the wart virus and reducing the total number of office visits required for resolution. Home-use salicylic acid preparations are also prescribed at appropriate concentrations as between-visit maintenance.

Best For: Flat warts, verruca plana, combination maintenance between office procedures, warts in locations where physical treatments risk scarring
06

Immunotherapy & Intralesional Agents

For warts that have failed all conventional approaches, Dr. Sierro offers several immunotherapy and intralesional treatment options. Candida antigen injection stimulates a localized immune response that can clear not only the injected wart but distant warts at other body sites — making it a powerful option for patients with multiple or recurrent warts. Imiquimod (Aldara) applied topically activates toll-like receptor pathways to stimulate interferon production and immune clearance of HPV-infected cells, and is the treatment of choice for genital warts. Intralesional bleomycin — a cytotoxic agent injected directly into stubborn warts — is available as a last-resort option for truly refractory cases unresponsive to all other modalities.

Best For: Multiple or recurrent warts, genital warts (imiquimod), truly refractory warts unresponsive to laser, cryotherapy, and chemical treatment

Molluscum Contagiosum

 

Molluscum Contagiosum Treatment in Los Angeles

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection caused by the molluscipoxvirus — a member of the poxvirus family entirely distinct from the human papillomavirus that causes warts. Despite their different viral origins, molluscum and warts are frequently confused by patients and occasionally by non-dermatologist providers. Accurate clinical distinction between these two conditions — and from other entities including basal cell carcinoma, milia, and folliculitis that can mimic molluscum — is the critical first step in effective treatment and is one of the core competencies of Dr. Sierro’s dermatologic training.

Who Gets Molluscum Contagiosum?

Molluscum is primarily a disease of childhood — it is one of the most common viral skin infections in children between ages 1 and 10, transmitted through direct skin contact, shared towels, bath water, and swimming pools. In the Santa Monica and greater Los Angeles area, where children participate actively in youth sports, swimming programs, and daycare settings, molluscum is an extremely common presentation in Dr. Sierro’s pediatric patients. In adults, molluscum is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact and presents in the genital and inner thigh region, or through skin contact in gym and athletic facilities. Immunocompromised patients — including those on immunosuppressive medications or with HIV — can develop extensive, widespread molluscum that is difficult to control without aggressive treatment.

The Vbeam Laser: The Treatment of Choice for Molluscum

While cryotherapy and cantharidin are both effective for molluscum, the Vbeam pulsed-dye laser is recognized in published dermatology literature as the treatment of choice for patients with multiple molluscum lesions requiring rapid, comprehensive resolution. The Vbeam’s ability to treat numerous lesions in a single session — without the repeated freezing required by cryotherapy — makes it particularly valuable for children with extensive molluscum, for adults seeking rapid clearance, and for immunocompromised patients with widespread disease who cannot wait for the weeks required for chemical or cryotherapy courses. The procedure is well-tolerated with topical anesthetic cream, produces immediate visible changes in treated lesions, and carries a minimal risk of scarring when performed by an experienced dermatologist.

1–10Primary age range for molluscum in children
6 mo–2 yrsTypical duration without treatment
1–3Vbeam sessions often sufficient for molluscum clearance
2023FDA approval year for cantharidin (Ycanth) for molluscum treatment

Your Treatment Experience

 

What to Expect at Your Wart Removal Appointment with Dr. Sierro

 

Comprehensive Dermatologic Consultation

Dr. Sierro performs a thorough clinical examination of all affected lesions — evaluating the wart type, number, distribution, duration, and prior treatment history. She uses dermoscopy (a magnifying lens examination tool) when needed to differentiate warts from other skin lesions and to assess the degree of vascularization that informs laser treatment planning. Your overall immune health, medication history, and any history of HPV-related conditions are reviewed. You leave the consultation with a clear, personalized treatment protocol and realistic expectations for the number of sessions required.

 

First Treatment Session

Most treatment modalities — cryotherapy, cantharidin application, or Vbeam laser — can be initiated at the first appointment or a scheduled follow-up shortly after consultation. For Vbeam laser treatments, topical numbing cream is applied 30–45 minutes before the session. For surgical excision, local anesthetic (lidocaine) is injected at the treatment site. Cantharidin application is painless at the time of treatment and requires no anesthesia. The session length varies from 10 minutes for small wart treatments to 45–60 minutes for multiple lesions or combination procedures.

 

Post-Treatment Care

Detailed aftercare instructions are provided for every treatment modality. After cryotherapy, the treated area will blister and heal over 1–2 weeks — patients are instructed to keep the area clean, avoid picking the blister, and apply petrolatum (Vaseline) to support healing. After Vbeam laser, mild bruising (purpura) at the treatment site is expected and typically resolves in 5–10 days. After cantharidin, the treated area should not be washed for the first 2–6 hours, then cleansed gently as the blister forms. After surgical excision, wound care with antibiotic ointment and a bandage is required for 1–2 weeks.

 

Follow-Up Assessment

Follow-up appointments are scheduled at 2–4 week intervals to assess the response of treated warts, identify any residual lesions requiring additional treatment, and determine whether new warts have appeared at adjacent sites. At each follow-up, Dr. Sierro evaluates the treatment response and adjusts the protocol as needed — escalating to a different modality, increasing treatment intensity, or adding immunotherapy if standard approaches are not achieving complete clearance. This iterative, responsive approach to wart management is a hallmark of dermatologist-supervised care.

 

Treatment Completion & Recurrence Prevention

When all visible warts have resolved, Dr. Sierro reviews the patient’s risk factors for recurrence — including ongoing HPV exposure, immune status, and the specific wart locations treated. Preventive counseling includes guidance on avoiding reinfection (footwear in public showers and pool areas for plantar wart patients, safe sexual practices for genital wart patients), the importance of treating any new lesions early before they spread, and the timeframe within which recurrence is most likely to be detected. Patients with a history of extensive or recurrent warts are offered a scheduled surveillance appointment at 3–6 months after treatment completion.

Who We Treat

 

Best Dermatologist for Wart Removal in Los Angeles?

Dr. Sierro treats warts and molluscum in patients of all ages at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center. The following presentations are ideal for a consultation with our board-certified dermatologist rather than continued self-treatment or delayed care.

✓   When to See Dr. Sierro for Wart or Molluscum Treatment

  • Warts that have persisted despite consistent use of over-the-counter salicylic acid preparations for more than 3 months — indicating that the HPV viral load in the lesion exceeds what topical keratolytics alone can eliminate
  • Multiple warts spreading to new sites on the body, suggesting active autoinoculation and the need for comprehensive treatment of all visible lesions to break the spread cycle
  • Plantar warts causing pain with walking, standing, or athletic activity — particularly in patients who are active runners, athletes, or beach-goers in the Santa Monica area
  • Warts on the face, eyelid margins, lips, or other cosmetically sensitive areas where self-treatment risks scarring and where physician precision is essential for safe removal
  • Periungual warts around or beneath the fingernails or toenails that are distorting nail growth or causing nail plate disruption
  • Children with molluscum contagiosum that is spreading, causing discomfort, or affecting quality of life — particularly before the start of a new school year or swim season
  • Adults with molluscum in the genital region or inner thighs who need accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and counseling on transmission prevention
  • Patients who have undergone multiple failed treatment courses at other Los Angeles dermatology practices and need access to Vbeam laser, surgical excision, or immunotherapy escalation options
  • Immunocompromised patients — including those on biologic medications, chemotherapy, or transplant immunosuppression — whose warts or molluscum are widespread, rapidly growing, or unusually treatment-resistant
  • Any patient with a skin lesion that could be a wart but has not been formally diagnosed — because conditions including squamous cell carcinoma, amelanotic melanoma, and other malignant growths can occasionally be mistaken for warts by non-physicians

When is it not a wart? Not every rough or raised skin lesion is a wart. Seborrheic keratoses, molluscum, squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratoses, corns, and calluses can all resemble warts to the untrained eye. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sierro examines every lesion with the diagnostic rigor needed to confirm the diagnosis before initiating treatment.

Common Questions

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Wart Removal in Los Angeles

How many treatments does wart removal take?

The number of sessions depends on the wart type, size, location, duration, and the treatment modality selected. Cryotherapy typically requires 2–4 sessions at 2–3 week intervals. Vbeam laser treatment often achieves significant clearance in 1–3 sessions. Surgical excision may resolve appropriate wart presentations in a single appointment. Flat warts and plantar warts in particular can require more sessions than common hand warts due to their depth and extent. Dr. Sierro provides a realistic session estimate at consultation based on your specific wart presentation.

What is the difference between warts and molluscum contagiosum?

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and typically appear as rough, firm, raised papules most commonly on the hands, feet, and face. Molluscum contagiosum is caused by an entirely different virus — the molluscipoxvirus — and appears as smooth, dome-shaped, flesh-colored papules with a characteristic central dimple (umbilication). Both are contagious viral infections that require physician evaluation for accurate diagnosis. Molluscum tends to resolve more predictably over time without treatment but can persist for up to 2 years without intervention, and active treatment significantly shortens this course and prevents further spread.

Is Vbeam laser treatment painful?

The Vbeam laser produces a sensation described by most patients as a brief snapping or stinging feeling at the time of each pulse — similar to a rubber band snap. Topical anesthetic cream applied 30–45 minutes before treatment significantly reduces this discomfort, and the Vbeam’s Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) provides a cryogen spray immediately before each pulse to protect the skin surface and reduce pain. Children generally tolerate the procedure well with topical numbing cream. After treatment, mild bruising (purpura) at the treated sites is expected and resolves in 5–10 days.

Can warts come back after treatment?

Yes — wart recurrence is possible after any treatment modality because the HPV virus can remain latent in the surrounding skin tissue even after the visible wart has been removed. The risk of recurrence is higher for plantar warts, periungual warts, and warts in immunocompromised patients. However, recurrence risk is significantly reduced when treatment is performed by an experienced dermatologist who treats not just the visible lesion but the peri-lesional skin, and who monitors the patient through follow-up appointments to detect and treat any recurrent lesions early. If warts do recur, Dr. Sierro manages these cases with appropriate escalation of treatment intensity.

Do children need to be sedated for wart or molluscum treatment?

No sedation is required for pediatric wart and molluscum treatment at Kare Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sierro uses topical numbing cream for Vbeam laser sessions, and cantharidin application is painless at the time of treatment — making it particularly well-suited to young children who cannot tolerate the discomfort of cryotherapy. For very young children or those with extensive molluscum, Dr. Sierro’s approach emphasizes comfort and minimizing distress while achieving effective treatment. Parents are encouraged to bring comfort items and are present throughout the procedure.

Are genital warts treated at Kare Plastic Surgery?

Yes. Dr. Sierro treats genital warts (condyloma acuminata) at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center with full clinical discretion and comprehensive dermatologic care. Treatment options include cryotherapy, imiquimod (Aldara), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and Vbeam laser for appropriate cases. She also provides counseling on HPV transmission, the distinction between HPV strains that cause genital warts and those associated with cervical cancer, recurrence risk, and the role of HPV vaccination in prevention. All appointments are handled with complete privacy and without judgment.

Why is a board-certified dermatologist better for wart removal than a med spa or urgent care?

Warts are viral infections that require accurate diagnosis, physician-level understanding of HPV biology and immune response, and access to a full range of treatment modalities — including Vbeam laser, intralesional immunotherapy, and surgical excision — that most urgent care facilities and med spas cannot provide. A board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Sierro can also distinguish warts from other lesions that mimic their appearance, including malignant skin growths that would be dangerous to treat as warts. When warts have failed self-treatment or previous provider attempts, the expertise gap between physician-supervised and non-physician care becomes acutely apparent.

How much does wart removal cost in Los Angeles?

The cost of wart and molluscum treatment at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center depends on the number of lesions, the treatment modality selected, and the number of sessions required. Medical wart treatment is often covered by health insurance when performed by a board-certified dermatologist for a documented medical indication — our office staff can assist with insurance verification and billing. For patients without insurance coverage, transparent self-pay pricing is available. Vbeam laser wart treatment is typically considered a cosmetic procedure and is generally not covered by insurance. A complete cost estimate is provided at consultation.

Schedule Your Wart Removal Consultation in Los Angeles

If you are struggling with warts, molluscum, or staph skin infections that have not responded to self-treatment, Dr. Tiffany Sierro at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Santa Monica is ready to help. Contact our office to schedule a dermatology consultation today.

(310) 998-5533 Request a Consultation

Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center  ·  804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403  ·  (310) 998-5533

Dr. Tiffany Sierro, MD — Board-Certified Dermatologist  ·  Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS — Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon  ·  RealSelf 100