Concierge dermatology · London
Private wart cryotherapy in London, liquid-nitrogen freezing, by a dermatology-trained clinician.
Liquid-nitrogen freezing by a clinician who does dermoscopy first — because a pigmented lesion mistaken for a wart is the classic melanoma miss.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Dermoscopy first, always
A dermatology-trained clinician confirms the diagnosis before any liquid nitrogen touches skin — the pigmented lesion mistaken for a wart is the classic melanoma miss.
- 02
Calibrated cryoguns
Dwell times and freeze cycles are measured, not eyeballed. The difference between clearance and a bad scar is a few seconds.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private wart cryotherapy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A single wart treatment in our network: £120-£250, response reviewed at 3-4 weeks.
| Treatment type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single wart treatment | £120–£250 | 15 min | Same visit |
| Multiple warts (up to 5) | £220–£450 | 20 min | Same visit |
| Verruca (plantar) treatment | £150–£300 | 15 min | Same visit |
| Course of 3 treatments | £350–£700 | 3 visits | 3–4 wks apart |
| Genital wart treatment | £280–£550 | 20 min | Same visit |
| Actinic keratosis field cryotherapy | £280–£600 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by how many lesions are being treated, and by whether the pathway needs a full specialist consultation first. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A cotton-bud dab is not the same as a calibrated freeze.
Most cryo failures are technique: too short, wrong lesion, no dermoscopy first. Dermoscopy first, a calibrated cryogun, and a planned course — that is the difference between clearance and a stubborn wart that keeps coming back.
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Tried the over-the-counter stuff?
Salicylic acid is a reasonable first step. If it has been eight weeks with no shift, cryo is the next line — done properly, with dwell time and cycles planned.
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Been treated before with no result?
Usually a dwell-time problem, sometimes a diagnostic one. Worth a fresh dermoscopy look before another freeze.
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Not sure it is even a wart?
A lot of things mimic warts — molluscum, corns, seborrhoeic keratoses, occasionally early skin cancer. A dermatology-trained eye sorts it in minutes.
The journey
From enquiry to review — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review, with a planned course only if the lesion needs it.
Phase 1 · Before your treatment
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
~30 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Send a photo of the lesion if you can, plus how long you have had it and what you have already tried.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: consultant dermatologist or specialist GP, which clinic, indicative price. If the lesion looks suspicious, we route you differently.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within a week. Dermoscopy first, then a decision on freeze cycles and dwell time — no cryo without a look.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Consent, dermoscopy and photography. The area is prepared and the clinician plans cycles and dwell time based on lesion size and site.
- 05
On the day
The freeze itself
5-30 seconds per cycle depending on the lesion, usually 1-2 cycles. It stings sharply during the freeze and aches for a few minutes afterwards.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
Aftercare instructions, what to expect from the blister, and when to come back. Most people are back to normal within the hour.
- 07
After
Review and repeat if needed
Response is judged at 3-4 weeks. Many warts need a course of 2-4 sessions. We book the next visit only if the lesion needs it.
Typical end-to-end for a course: 6-12 weeks. Urgent cases (suspicious lesions): expedited to excision.
When it is the right step
When cryotherapy is the right treatment.
Cryo works for a specific set of lesions. These are the situations it is designed for — and one it is not.
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Common warts (hands, fingers)
The classic verruca vulgaris. Cryotherapy is first-line after topical salicylic acid has failed.
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Plane warts (face)
Small, flat, skin-coloured warts. Cryo works but dwell times are shorter to protect pigmentation on the face.
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Genital warts (specialist pathway)
Treated with shorter cycles by a clinician familiar with the anatomy. Pregnancy has specific rules.
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Verrucae (plantar)
Warts on the sole of the foot. Often need paring first and multiple cycles because of thick keratin.
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Recurrent warts
Warts that came back after previous treatment. Worth reviewing technique and considering adjunctive therapies.
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Actinic keratoses (field treatment)
Pre-cancerous sun-damage patches. Field cryo covers multiple lesions in a single visit.
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Paediatric warts
Children tolerate cryo less well. We use shorter cycles, or wait — most childhood warts clear on their own within two years.
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Red flag: pigmented or changing lesion — see mole excision pathway
Any pigment, rapid change or bleeding is not a wart until proven otherwise. Dermoscopy first, excision if in doubt.
Treatment types
Not all cryo appointments are the same.
What each option on your quote is actually for.
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Single wart cryotherapy
One lesion, 1-2 freeze cycles, dwell time calibrated to site and thickness.
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Multiple wart cryotherapy
Up to five lesions in a single visit at the same anaesthetic-free session.
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Verruca treatment
Plantar warts pared down first, then frozen — often needs a longer freeze because of the thick sole.
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Course of 3
Three sessions 3-4 weeks apart, planned upfront. Best evidence base for stubborn warts.
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Genital wart treatment
Shorter cycles, careful technique, and screening for co-existing STI where appropriate.
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Actinic keratosis field
Multiple sun-damage lesions treated across a scalp, forehead or forearm in one field session.
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Digital surveillance follow-up
Dermoscopy photographs before and after so response can be judged objectively at review.
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Combined with topical wart therapy
Cryo alongside salicylic acid or immune-modulating cream for resistant lesions.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant dermatologists or specialist GPs — clinicians who do this every week, not occasionally
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Dermoscopy first, to confirm the diagnosis before any freezing
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Calibrated cryoguns rather than dab-and-hope cotton buds
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Onward biopsy or specialist referral pathway if the lesion turns out to be something else
Safety and aftercare
Simple, but not without side effects.
Cryotherapy is safe, but the freeze itself is uncomfortable and blistering is expected. The things worth knowing are which lesions should never be frozen, and how to look after the site while it heals.
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Painful during freeze
A sharp sting for 5-30 seconds while the tissue freezes, then an ache for a few minutes. No anaesthetic is used because the freeze itself numbs the site.
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Blistering is expected
A blood or fluid blister within 24-48 hours is normal — it is the wart lifting off. Do not pop it deliberately.
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Pigmentation change is common
Lighter or darker patches at the treated site are common in darker skin types. Often temporary, sometimes permanent.
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Scarring is rare
With calibrated dwell times, scars are uncommon — but they do happen, especially on the shin, ankle and dorsum of the hand.
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Never cryo pigmented lesions
Freezing a pigmented lesion without dermoscopy first is how melanomas get missed. Always a dermatology-trained eye first.
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Genital warts need specialist pathway
Different technique, different consent, and STI screening where indicated. Not a general-practice cryo booking.
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Pregnancy — specific rules
Genital warts in pregnancy are treated with a narrower set of options; some agents are contraindicated. Always tell the clinician.
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Immunosuppressed patients
Response is slower and recurrence is common. Alternative or adjunctive therapies may be needed.
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Always confirm diagnosis first
Molluscum, seborrhoeic keratosis, corn, callus and early skin cancer can all mimic a wart. Dermoscopy sorts it in minutes.
Reading your report
A treatment note is short. It should still tell you something.
Whichever lesion was treated, the note keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
Dermoscopy first, always — before any liquid nitrogen.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Lesion and prior treatments
Where the lesion is, how long you have had it, and what has already been tried — salicylic acid, previous cryo, duct tape.
- 02 Technique
Dwell time and cycles
How many seconds per freeze, how many freeze-thaw cycles, and any adjuncts used at the visit.
- 03 Findings
Dermoscopy first
Dermoscopic features that confirmed the diagnosis before treatment — thrombosed capillaries, disruption of skin lines, absence of pigment network.
- 04 Impression
Read first — response and next cycle
What response to expect, when to review, and when the next cycle is scheduled if one is needed.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for wart cryotherapy varies — most insurers treat cosmetic wart removal as self-pay, while cryo for actinic keratoses or suspected pre-cancer is usually covered. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about wart cryotherapy.
Quick answers on pain, sessions needed, scarring, pigmentation, cost, and children.
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Does cryotherapy hurt?
Yes, briefly. The freeze itself stings sharply for 5-30 seconds, and there is an ache for a few minutes afterwards. No anaesthetic is used because the freeze acts as its own numbing agent. Most adults tolerate it easily; children less so.
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How many treatments will I need?
Most warts need 2-4 sessions spaced 3-4 weeks apart. A single freeze clears roughly a third of common warts; a planned course clears 60-70%. Plantar verrucae need more cycles because of the thick sole.
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Will I have a scar?
Scarring is uncommon when dwell times are calibrated to site and skin type. It is more likely on the shin, ankle and back of the hand, and in people prone to keloids.
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Will my skin change colour?
Pigmentation change — lighter or darker patches at the treated site — is common, especially in darker skin types. It is often temporary, but can be permanent.
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Can I have cryotherapy while pregnant?
Cryotherapy itself is safe in pregnancy, but the pathway for genital warts in pregnancy is specific — some agents used alongside are contraindicated. Always tell the clinician.
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Can children have cryotherapy?
Yes, but cautiously. Children tolerate the pain less well and often we prefer to wait — most childhood warts clear spontaneously within two years. When cryo is used, we use shorter cycles.
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How are genital warts treated?
Genital warts are treated with shorter cryo cycles by a clinician familiar with the anatomy, alongside STI screening where appropriate. It is not a general cryo booking — it is a specialist pathway.
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What is the difference between a verruca and a common wart?
They are the same virus (HPV) in different sites. A verruca is a wart on the sole of the foot; a common wart is anywhere else. Verrucae grow inward under body weight and need more treatment because of the thick keratin.
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How much does private wart cryotherapy cost in London?
A single wart treatment is typically £120-£250, a course of three £350-£700, and genital wart treatment £280-£550. We confirm firm figures within one working day.
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When should I see a GP urgently instead?
Any lesion that is pigmented, bleeding, ulcerated, growing quickly, or new after age 40 is not a routine wart — it needs urgent dermatology review. Contact your GP for a two-week-wait referral, or contact us and we will expedite a private appointment.
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