Cryotherapy
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy or Cryosurgery is a safe and highly effective procedure used to freeze and destroy benign skin lesions.
Liquified nitrous oxide is used to destroy the tissue by freezing the cell fluid, which in turn forms ice shards that rupture the cell membrane, subsequently destroying the cell and the lesion.
Cryotherapy is quicker than alternative methods and patients can return to normal activities after treatment(s). It requires no anaesthesia and causes minimal scarring.
What can Cryotherapy treat?
Crootherapy at Mulberries Aesthetics & Beauty can treat the following skin conditions and concerns:
Minor irregularities
Skin tags
Solar lentigo
Age spots
Hyper pigmentation
Millia
Thread veins
Viral verruca
Warts / Plantar warts
Small birth marks
Dermato fibroma
Seborrheic keratoses
Non-recurrent basal cells
Actinic keratoses
Cherry angioma / Red moles
Consultation required
£40 first blemish
£20 for additional blemishes per treatment
Cryotherapy FAQs
Q. What does Cryotherapy Treatment involve?
Treatment is carried out in 3 phases:
First Freeze Cycle
The practitioner will hold the applicator as close as possible to the lesion/skin condition, moving it quickly towards and away from it. Depending on the lesion/area size and depth, the treatment could last from 1 to 30 seconds.
Thaw
After the first freezing cycle, the tissue will be allowed to thaw for about 30 seconds.
Second Freeze Cycle
The freezing process is then repeated. During the second freeze cycle the tissue will freeze faster than during the first cycle. The treated area may blister following treatment.
Q. How long does the blister last after treatment?
A blister forms 2-24 hours after treatment. Blisters may take several days to dissolve. Once a blister breaks, a crust will form over the treated area. Healing occurs from 1 to 6 weeks, depending on depth of freeze and size of lesion.
Q. Can you describe the procedure in more detail?
During the procedure, the area freezes and turns white. After this white area thaws, a flushing occurs, and the area will turn red. This thawing sensation is associated with a pinching sensation as a wound is formed. This wounded area will typically turn into a blister, which may last for 3 to 5 days before it scabs. The scab will then fall off within 2 weeks. Depending on the extent of freeze, a new scab may form, and the process will be repeated. The lesion will be completely healed in 2 to 6 weeks. After primary healing occurs, the area will be lighter than the surrounding area due to loss of melanocytes.
Q. Why is CryoSurgery better than other methods of removing skin lesions?
Cryotherapy requires no anaesthesia and causes less scarring than other techniques. It also results in minimal post-op care.
Q. Will there be scarring?
Typically, Cryotherapy leaves a minimal amount of scarring, less than any other form of lesion removal, because it causes the least damage to the connective tissue. A hypo-pigmented lesion will appear lighter until it darkens with new tanning.
Q. Is Cryotherapy Painful?
There may be some tingling with the initial freezing, but most patients receive an anaesthetic effect from the extreme freezing temperatures. You may experience more of a pinching sensation as the area thaws out. Some patients feel some discomfort for the first 24 hours following the procedure. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are usually suitable to ease any pain or discomfort.
Q. How permanent is the Cryotherapy?
For most lesions / skin concerns, Cryotherapy provides permanent removal. Some lesions are harder to remove than others. In more delicate places a shorter freeze time, with repeated procedures, may be required to achieve the best results with minimal damage to the surrounding skin. In other cases, a deep lesion may take several aggressive treatments to remove. Warts may require multiple treatments.
Q. Will there be permanent discoloration?
Since melanocytes are the most sensitive cell type, patients with dark pigmentation or prolonged freeze times may experience extremely long colour recovery or permanent colour loss, even after the lesion is completely healed.
Q. What type of skin abnormalities are most appropriate for treatment?
Almost any unwanted skin lesions can be treated such as warts, moles, actinic keratosis, seboreac keratosis, keloids scars, age spots, solar lentigo, dermato fibromas and cherry angioma.
Q. What types of lesions should NOT be treated?
All melanomas and recurrent basal cell carcinomas. Melanoma can spread several means including local, lymphatic and blood. Additionally, Melanoma will change to a much more aggressive form if part of the lesion is left behind undetected. Basil cell carcinoma is typically spread by local extension, and you may need more extensive surgery if recurrence is suspected.
Q. Where on the body can skin abnormalities be treated?
Extra care should be taken around areas where the skin is very thin and areas where colour may be cosmetically important. These areas may include the face, ears, scrotum and lateral surface of fingers.
Q. Can anyone have Cryotherapy?
Cautions about skin type and lesion location should be considered prior to treatment. People with high levels of cryo globulins should be treated with caution. If you have very dark skin, you may not want to consider Cryotherapy, because it will kill the melanocytes around the treated area, making the skin in that area lighter.
Q. Do warts fall off after one treatment?
Most small common warts will respond to a single treatment. However, certain types and very large warts can be very difficult to remove and may require multiple treatments.
Q. What is the recovery time / limitations following a Cryotherapy treatment?
There are no limitations on activity except to protect the treated area from damage or abrasion.
Q. How do I take care of the blister?
Keep the blister as protected as possible and do not break the blister unless it leaks, then apply antibiotic ointment and keep it covered.
Q. What if the blister bursts?
If the blister bursts, use an antibiotic cleaning solution and ointment to help protect it. Cover the area with a bandage to avoid infection.
Q. What are the most common complications after Cryotherapy?
An early blister that bursts could potentially become infected if not cleaned and protected properly.