How Much Does Wart Removal Cost?

Last Updated on February 20, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The cost of getting warts removed can vary quite a bit depending on the type of treatment, the number of sessions needed, and whether or not you have health insurance to help cover some of the costs.

Highlights

• Common wart removal options range from cryotherapy and laser treatments to surgical excision. Over-the-counter products offer inexpensive home treatment.
• Expect to spend $50 to $300 per session for professional cryotherapy or laser removal. Single session surgical excision typically costs $250 to $800 or more.
• Multiple sessions are usually needed for full clearance of warts, driving overall costs to $150 to $1,000 on average.
• The total cost is influenced by the number and size of warts, treatment type, provider fees, and insurance coverage.
• Medical insurance can cover some of the costs for medically necessary wart removal. Out-of-pocket fees range $30 to $150 per session for insured patients.
• Affordable options like OTC wart removers and provider rate comparisons help reduce overall spending on wart treatment.

With many factors affecting pricing, it’s important to understand your options when budgeting for wart removal.

Warts are benign skin growths caused by viral infections in the top layer of the skin. They often resolve on their own over time, but many people seek treatment for cosmetic reasons or discomfort. There are a few main methods used to get rid of warts:

• Cryotherapy (freezing warts with liquid nitrogen)
• Laser therapy to destroy wart tissue
• Surgical excision by cutting away the wart
• Over-the-counter medications and home remedies

Professional procedures like cryotherapy and laser removal are more expensive but extremely effective for even stubborn warts. Home treatments and OTC formulas can be very affordable but may require consistent applications and take longer.

How Much Does Wart Removal Cost?

The total cost for wart removal can range from $50 to $800 or more, on average. However, patients typically end up paying somewhere between $100 to $350 out-of-pocket.

Here’s an overview of the cost range for common wart removal methods:

• Cryotherapy: $50 to $300 per session
• Laser therapy: $100 to $500 per session
• Surgical excision: $250 to $800 or more
• Over-the-counter remedies: $10 to $30

The exact pricing depends on factors like the provider’s rates, the number and size of warts, and the number of treatments needed. Most methods require more than one session to fully eliminate a wart.

OC Wart Treatment has listed on its website the following costs for wart removal:

• Hand Warts: $300-$500 each
• Foot Warts: $300-$500 each
• Genital Warts: $500.00 (up to five); Each Additional Genital Wart: $50.00

Drugs.com notes that Wart Remover topical liquid 17% costs around $11 for a supply of 9 milliliters, depending on the pharmacy visited.

According to Care Credit, cryotherapy for wart removal costs about $610, which includes the initial doctor’s visit and up to four follow-up treatments.

Cost Range for Wart Removal Treatments

Let’s look at the costs associated with professional wart removal techniques in more detail:

Cryotherapy Costs

With cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is applied to the wart in order to freeze and destroy the infected tissue. It usually takes several repeated freeze-thaw cycles over multiple sessions to eradicate a wart. Each session typically costs between $75 and $200.

Small, superficial warts may only take one or two short sessions costing around $100 total. Larger or deeper warts often need 4 to 6 sessions averaging $300 total or more if they are extensive.

So, you can expect to pay $50 to $300 per cryotherapy session, with most patients requiring 2 to 6 sessions in total at a cost of $150 to $900.

Laser Wart Removal Costs

Laser treatment uses focused beams of light to penetrate beneath the skin and destroy the wart tissue. The advanced technology allows for precise targeting without damaging surrounding healthy skin.

Like cryotherapy, laser removal requires multiple sessions spaced weeks apart. Each session often costs $150 to $250 for a limited number of small warts. Larger treatment areas can cost up to $500 per session.

Most patients need 2 to 4 laser sessions to fully clear warts. So the total cost ends up ranging from $300 to $1,000.

Surgical Excision Costs

With this approach, the wart is simply cut away using a scalpel or scissors and the skin is stitched back together. It offers immediate and complete wart removal in a single visit.

You might also like our articles about the cost of Keloid removal, sebaceous cyst removal, or Accutane to treat acne.

The initial consultation to evaluate warts and prepare for surgery may cost $100 to $250. The procedure itself is often $350 to $500 depending on the dermatologist’s fees and the number/size of warts removed. More extensive surgery for multiple warts could cost $800+.

So, you can expect to pay about $500 to $1,000 total to have warts removed surgically by a skin specialist.

Over-the-Counter Wart Remover Costs

Medicated bandages, gels, patches, and freezing products for at-home wart removal cost just $10 to $30. They are very affordable but can take weeks of repeated use to gradually get rid of warts. Results vary depending on the product and persistence in using it daily.

For small, mild warts, OTC treatments offer an inexpensive option. But severe or spreading warts often need professional procedures for prompt, effective removal.

What Impacts the Cost of Wart Removal?

There are several factors that influence the overall pricing for wart removal, including:

• Type of treatment: Surgical excision is the most expensive option per session, followed by laser removal and cryotherapy. But the total cost depends on number of sessions.
• Number of warts: Removing multiple warts in one session increases the cost compared to a single wart.
• Wart size and location: Larger or harder-to-reach warts cost more to remove. Facial warts are more expensive than those on the arms or legs.
• Number of sessions required: Stubborn warts need more repeat treatments, driving up the total fees.
• Provider rates: Dermatologist and clinic fees vary, impacting per-session costs. Cosmetic clinics tend to be pricier.
• Insurance coverage: Out-of-pocket costs are lower for patients with health insurance to offset fees.

Using Insurance for Wart Removal Coverage

Most health insurance plans cover cryotherapy or surgical wart removal if deemed medically necessary. This can save patients money, with plans paying for part of the total costs.

Coverage varies, but patients with insurance often pay $30 to $60 copays per session and have deductibles ranging from $500 to $1,000. After meeting the deductible, insurance usually covers 60% to 80% of the remaining costs.

Elective cosmetic procedures like laser wart removal often aren’t covered. Patients may need to pay session fees completely out-of-pocket. However, some flexible spending accounts (FSAs) can be used for laser skin treatments.

Tips for Reducing Wart Removal Expenses

If you’re looking to save money on getting your warts treated, here are some helpful tips:

• Compare provider rates to find affordable options for medically necessary wart removal covered by insurance. Hospital clinics are often pricier.
• Consider OTC wart removal for small, mild warts on the hands or feet. This can provide inexpensive treatment if you stick with it.
• Use FSA or HSA funds to pay for deductibles or non-covered treatment costs.
• Ask your dermatologist about possible discounts for paying session fees upfront in cash.
• See if your doctor offers freezes as part of a regular visit to avoid separate cryotherapy fees.
• Opt for cryotherapy over other in-office treatments – it tends to have the lowest per session cost, minimizing expenses.
• Treat multiple warts at once during removal sessions to maximize value.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does wart remover last?

Wart removers can last for 1-3 months typically when used as directed. Medicated patches, gels, and liquid formulas usually provide enough applications for treating warts over a 60-to-90-day period before needing to purchase a refill.

Consistently using the product as directed helps ensure it lasts for the full duration of therapy in removing warts.

With professional procedures like cryotherapy, the destroyed wart tissue will not return after treatment. However new warts could develop over time and require additional removal sessions.

Is it worth getting warts removed?

Getting warts removed professionally is often worth it, especially for persistent, spreading, or uncomfortable warts. Treatments like cryotherapy and laser removal have very high success rates in eliminating warts quickly and permanently. This can be more cost-effective than long-term use of over-the-counter products.

Medically necessary wart removal may also be covered partially by insurance. For small, mild warts, OTC remedies can be effective for some patients and provide less expensive treatment. Discuss the benefits and costs of different options with your dermatologist.

Do warts just fall off after treatment?

Warts don’t automatically fall off right after treatment. The destroyed wart tissue remains in place initially. After cryotherapy or laser therapy, the treated wart will darken and harden into a scab over 5-7 days.

The scab naturally sheds about 2-3 weeks after the procedure as new skin cells form underneath. This makes the wart detach and “fall off.”

The area heals completely within 1-2 months. With surgical wart removal, the skin is numbed and the wart is cut away immediately. The skin is repaired with stitches and heals within a week or two.

Can I take a bath after wart removal?

It’s recommended to avoid baths for the first 48 hours after having warts removed. Soaking the treated area can increase irritation and infection risk.

Quick showers are fine for about 24 hours following cryotherapy or excision. Avoid scrubbing the skin and just let water and mild soap gently run over the area.

After 2 days, baths are safe as long as you keep the site clean and dry with gentle pat drying. Avoid picking scabs to allow proper healing.

Use an antibiotic ointment and bandage if needed for additional protection until healed. Take care to avoid trauma to the area when bathing. Check with your dermatologist for specific aftercare guidelines.