Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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No treatment eradicates the HPV virus directly — there’s no drug that “kills” it. But this is far
less discouraging than it sounds: in most people the immune system clears or suppresses HPV over months to a
couple of years, after which warts stop forming. So while we can’t wipe the virus out on demand, the body
usually deals with it — and the visible warts are very treatable in the meantime.
Why There’s No “Cure” for the Virus
HPV lives inside your own skin cells, which is what makes it hard to target with a drug. Treatments remove the
visible warts — by freezing, cautery, excision, laser or prescription creams — but none erase the virus itself.
That’s why claims to “kill HPV forever” are misleading; be wary of products promising it. The realistic, honest
goal is to clear the warts and let your immune system do the rest (see
getting rid of them for good).
How the Body Clears HPV
Your immune system gradually recognises and suppresses the virus. For most people this means HPV becomes
undetectable and inactive within about one to two years, and warts no longer return. There’s no routine test that
“confirms” the virus has completely gone, so clearance is generally judged by warts staying away over time rather
than by a single result.
What You Can Do to Help
Support your immune system with the basics — don’t smoke (smoking is linked to slower clearance and more
recurrence), sleep and eat well, and manage stress. Treat warts promptly so they don’t spread, and consider the
HPV vaccine, which can protect against types you haven’t yet encountered. Immune-stimulating
treatments such as imiquimod may also help. If warts keep returning, that’s covered in
why they keep coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can the HPV that causes genital warts be eradicated?
- No treatment eradicates HPV directly. However, the immune system clears or suppresses the virus in most people over months to a couple of years, after which warts stop forming — so it usually resolves, just not through a drug that kills the virus.
- Is there a test to confirm the virus has gone?
- Not a routine one. Clearance is generally judged by warts staying away over time rather than by a single test result. Cervical screening tests for high-risk HPV types, which are different from the wart-causing types.
- Can I speed up clearing the virus?
- There’s no guaranteed way, but supporting your immune system helps — not smoking, sleeping and eating well, and managing stress. Treating warts promptly and considering the HPV vaccine are sensible steps.
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