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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Genital warts are small growths on or around the genitals or anus, caused by low-risk HPV types (usually 6 and 11) that do not cause cancer. At London Skin Clinic they’re removed discreetly, usually the same day as your consultation, most often by cautery and curettage under local anaesthetic — with CO2 laser or excision for larger or recurrent warts. Removal is £300 (each additional £200, consultation £100). This consultant-led guide explains the methods honestly, how they compare with a free NHS GUM clinic, what recurrence really looks like, why a new wart is not proof of infidelity, and exactly what to expect on the day.
What Genital Warts Are
Genital warts (condylomata acuminata) are soft growths caused by HPV infecting the skin and mucous membranes of the genital and anal area. They spread by skin-to-skin sexual contact and are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections — having them reflects nothing more than how common the virus is.
An important reassurance: the HPV types that cause visible genital warts (mainly 6 and 11) are low-risk — they do not cause cancer. The high-risk types linked to cervical and other cancers (such as 16 and 18) are a different group and usually don’t produce visible warts. A fuller overview of causes, symptoms and impact is worth reading alongside this.
Symptoms and Where They Appear
Warts can appear singly or in clusters that look slightly cauliflower-like, and may be flesh-coloured, raised or flat. They’re usually painless but can itch, occasionally bleed, or simply cause worry. In women they may be on the vulva, inside the vagina, or around the cervix or anus — see early-stage HPV warts in women. In men they appear on the penis, scrotum or around the anus. Peri-anal and anal warts can affect anyone. Because other conditions can look similar, a professional diagnosis always comes first.
How We Remove Them — Methods Compared
Our approach is physical removal of the visible warts, chosen to suit their number, size and site. Prescription creams (podophyllotoxin, imiquimod) exist and are used mainly via GP or GUM clinics over several weeks; our focus is prompt, same-day removal by an experienced surgeon.
| Method | How it works | We use it for | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cautery & curettage | The wart is removed with a fine heated tip and the base sealed, under local anaesthetic. | Our usual method for most external genital warts. | Usually one visit. |
| CO2 laser | Precisely vaporises warts, useful in awkward areas. | Larger, recurrent or hard-to-reach warts. | One, sometimes more. |
| Surgical excision | The wart is shaved or cut away and the skin allowed to heal. | Larger or persistent lesions; when tissue should be examined. | One visit. |
| Cryotherapy | Liquid nitrogen freezes the warts so they slough off. | Multiple small external warts. | Often repeated. |
One thing that genuinely doesn’t work: ordinary antiviral tablets (the kind used for cold sores or herpes) have no effect on HPV — a common and worth-correcting myth. And never use home “wart removers” sold for hands and feet on genital skin; they aren’t safe there.
See-and-Treat: What to Expect on the Day
In most cases genital warts are dealt with as a see-and-treat appointment — assessed and removed on the same day as your consultation, so you don’t need to come back for a separate procedure. You’re seen in a private consulting room by one consultant throughout, the diagnosis is confirmed, the options are explained without judgement, and treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic where needed. Nothing is placed on shared records without your consent. Aftercare is simple — keep the area clean, expect some soreness for a few days, and avoid sexual contact until it has healed.
NHS GUM Clinic vs Private Care
It’s worth being straight about this. NHS sexual health (GUM) clinics treat genital warts free, are competent, and are perfectly fine for many people — if cost is the priority, they’re a good option. Private care is worth it for speed, discretion, seeing the same consultant, a choice of removal method, and same-day treatment rather than a series of repeat cryotherapy visits. Neither is “better” in the abstract; it depends on what matters most to you. What we offer is a single discreet appointment with a consultant plastic surgeon who both diagnoses and treats.
Cost and Insurance
- Consultation: £100
- Genital wart removal: £300
- Each additional wart in the same visit: £200
The full cost is always confirmed before any procedure. Genital wart removal is an STI-related treatment, and cover varies between private health insurers — some exclude it, so check your policy details and any excess before assuming it’s covered; self-funding is straightforward and transparent. View the genital wart removal procedure · book a discreet consultation or call 0203 916 6200.
Can They Be Cured for Good?
It’s the most common question, and the honest answer has two parts. Treatment reliably removes the visible warts. No treatment eradicates the HPV virus itself — but that’s less bleak than it sounds: in most people the immune system clears the virus over one to two years, after which warts stop returning. So “gone for good” usually does happen, just on the immune system’s timetable rather than instantly. Full detail in understanding genital warts and HPV.
Recurrence — and “How Did My Partner Get This?”
Warts can come back after treatment because the virus lingers in nearby skin — around 20–30% recur within the first three months, whatever the method, and most recurrences happen within six months. That’s the virus, not a sign of treatment failure, and recurrent warts are simply re-treated. Full detail in our guide to genital wart recurrence.
One point matters more than any statistic. HPV can lie dormant for months or many years before a wart appears, so a new wart in a long-term, faithful relationship is not evidence of recent infidelity — it’s usually an old infection surfacing. It’s a conversation we have with couples almost every week, and framing it as information rather than accusation spares a great deal of unnecessary hurt.
Prevention: Vaccine, Condoms, Partners
- HPV vaccination (Gardasil 9) protects against the types causing most genital warts, and is most effective before exposure — but is still worth discussing at any age.
- Condoms reduce transmission by roughly 70% but don’t eliminate it, because the virus lives on skin a condom doesn’t cover.
- Partners — most sexually active adults carry HPV at some point; it’s near-universal, and there’s no routine test for men. Honest, supportive conversations help far more than blame. See disclosure and relationships.
What People Ask on Reddit — A Surgeon’s Honest Take
The genital-wart threads are full of worry and misinformation. Here are the honest answers.
“Do genital warts mean I’ll get cancer?”
No. Visible genital warts come from low-risk HPV (types 6 and 11), which are not the cancer-linked types. They’re unwelcome, not dangerous. Routine cervical screening still matters for its own separate reasons.
“Is it worth going private when the GUM clinic is free?”
The GUM clinic is a genuinely good, free option. Private is worth paying for if you want speed, discretion, one consultant throughout, a choice of method, and same-day removal rather than repeat freezing visits.
“My partner got a wart — does that mean someone cheated?”
Almost never. HPV can sit dormant for years before a wart shows up, so it usually traces back to an exposure long before the current relationship. It is not proof of anything recent.
“Will antiviral tablets clear them?”
No — those are for herpes, a different virus. HPV doesn’t respond to antivirals. Warts are cleared by physical removal or prescription topical treatments.
Your Questions, Answered
- Do genital warts cause cancer?
- No. The HPV types that cause visible genital warts (mainly 6 and 11) are low-risk and do not cause cancer. The high-risk types linked to cervical and other cancers are a separate group that usually doesn’t produce warts. Routine cervical screening still matters for its own reasons.
- How does the clinic remove genital warts?
- Most often by cautery and curettage under local anaesthetic, usually the same day as your consultation. CO2 laser or excision is used for larger or recurrent warts, and cryotherapy for multiple small ones. Our focus is prompt physical removal rather than weeks of home creams.
- Can I get genital warts treated on the NHS?
- Yes — NHS sexual health (GUM) clinics treat genital warts free and confidentially, and are fine for many people. Private care is worth it for speed, discretion, seeing one consultant, choice of method, and same-day treatment.
- Can genital warts be cured permanently?
- Treatment removes the visible warts; no treatment eradicates the HPV virus itself. However, the immune system clears HPV in most people over one to two years, after which warts stop coming back — so they usually do go for good, just not instantly.
- Does a new wart mean my partner cheated?
- Almost never. HPV can lie dormant for months or years before a wart appears, so a new wart in a long relationship is usually an old infection surfacing, not evidence of recent infidelity.
- No. Antiviral medicines used for cold sores and genital herpes have no effect on HPV or genital warts. Effective options are physical removal or prescription topical treatments.
- How much does genital wart removal cost in London?
- At London Skin Clinic, the consultation is £100, genital wart removal is £300 and each additional wart is £200. You’re given the full cost before any procedure.
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