Introduction

In humans, one of the most common injuries is those of the tissues and muscles. One of the most common treatments to treat some of the injuries in various tissues, possible inflammation and muscle pain, is cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy , which was created in the late 70s by the Japanese doctor.It is also used for aesthetic purposes, as the cold accelerates the metabolism and promotes weight loss .

What is cryotherapy?

It is a very safe and minimally invasive medical method that can be applied percutaneously or surgically, which uses intense cold in order to destroy damaged tissue, such as warts or skin lesions , even cancer cells on the skin.

It is also used for treatments on body organs through cryosurgery. For this, liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used at high pressure, through an applicator that resembles a needle called a cryoprobe, explain the specialists from

In some centers it is also used for aesthetic purposes, since there are several studies that indicate that thanks to the application of localized cold, the elimination of fats is enhanced , metabolism is accelerated and cellulite and flaccidity are fought.

How do I know if I am a candidate?

This treatment is indicated for people of any age, men or women who have skin lesions such as warts, spots, or other skin and eye lesions .

According to the specialists of more serious cases, a surgical incision with the help of the cryoprobe may be needed. Along these lines, cryotherapy is currently being used to treat tumors in the lung, kidneys, spine, and sinuses, among others .

It has also been shown to be effective in treatments such as:

tumors present in the dermis
nodules
papillomas
some types of cancers such as (prostate, kidney, and cervix)
freckles
ruby point
contagious molluscum
skin tags
condylomata acuminata

It is also used in sports to treat some muscle injuries and in the aesthetic field, since it has been proven that the application of cold accelerates the metabolism, helps eliminate fat and fights cellulite .

This treatment is contraindicated in pregnant or lactating women. It is also not recommended in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

How do I choose my doctor?

This treatment is indicated for people of any age, men or women who have skin lesions such as warts, spots, or other skin and eye lesions .

It has also been shown to be effective in treatments such as:

tumors present in the dermis
nodules
papillomas
some types of cancers such as (prostate, kidney, and cervix)
freckles
ruby point
contagious molluscum
skin tags
condylomata acuminata

This treatment is contraindicated in pregnant or lactating women. It is also not recommended in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

What is the first visit to the dermatologist like?

During the first visit, the dermatologist will perform an exhaustive analysis , evaluating the complete history of the patient. In addition, during this first consultation, the specialist will check your skin and ask the patient what their main motivations are for carrying out the treatment.

On the other hand, the dermatologist will evaluate the lesion or lesions to be eliminated through cryotherapy, together with observing the complete state of the patient’s skin and its healing capacity. The expert will then explain in detail how the cryotherapy treatment is performed, as well as how to prepare for this procedure.

How should I prepare for a treatment?

In order to undergo a cryotherapy treatment, many specialists recommend that patients prepare by taking ibuprofen (400 mg) about 30 minutes before the procedure to avoid possible discomfort . It is also common to use antibiotics before cryotherapy to avoid infection. In the cases in which treatments are carried out on tumors in organs, patients must suspend the blood-thickening medications a few days before, as explained from

Likewise, it is very important that the patient tells his doctor about all the medicines he is taking , including vitamin supplements.

How is the treatment carried out

Cryotherapy is a safe procedure that uses liquid nitrogen (-196 °) or argon gas in order to destroy lesions or diseased tissues.

To destroy these tissues outside the body, several techniques are used to apply liquid nitrogen:

a cotton swab
by spraying
clamp application

One of the most common is to use a cotton swab or spray bottle to directly apply liquid nitrogen to the patient’s injury. To completely eliminate the lesion, at least 3 to 6 sessions will be needed (more than 10 are not recommended) since an adverse effect can be generated and each session must be separated by 3 to 4 weeks.

Each session lasts about 4 minutes and during this the patient may feel a slight discomfort due to the cold, but that disappears almost immediately. It is important to note that cold is applied only to skin lesions, without penetrating the inner layers of the skin and taking care of the healthy tissue around the lesion.

In the aesthetic field, this treatment is widely used to combat wrinkles, remove skin blemishes and blemishes.

In the event that the patient has to treat a tumor under the surface of the skin :

The specialist doctor, which is commonly a radiologist, who will be guided through images to perform the percutaneous intervention. To do this, the patient is sedated (it can be moderate or general sedation) and several very thin applicators or cryoprobes are inserted until they reach the tumor. Liquid nitrogen or gas is then expelled through the cryoprobes, creating a kind of “ice ball” (for some larger tumors, several applications must be made until the tissues freeze). At the end if the applicators or cryoprobes are removed and it is covered with a bandage. The entire procedure typically takes about 3 hours, the experts at

How is the recovery?

Recovery will depend on the type of treatment the patient underwent . In the case of treating a superficial skin lesion, the patient will observe some of the following symptoms:

The treated area turns reddish.
Presence of an edema that disappears after 12-24 hours.
On more rare occasions, a blister appears that breaks without scarring after 48 hours.
Then a scab forms that falls off naturally as days go by.
The new skin appears.

Dermik specialists also recommend that the patient apply alcohol or povidone iodine on the treated area for as long as necessary until the scab falls off. It is also advisable to cover the area with a dressing and they should not be exposed to the sun.

In the event that the patient has undergone surgery to treat a tumor in an internal organ, the patient must remain at rest for 7-10 days after the intervention, without exercise or physical activity .

Possible complications

Despite being a fairly safe and effective treatment, it is not exempt from possible complications, among which we can highlight:

presence of blisters
fever
a possible infection
edema
possible burn due to mishandling of the equipment
depigmentation

How are the results?

The skin tissues are regenerated.
Skin lesions are removed.
Long-term effects.
Results in a few days.
Feeling of relaxation
The metabolism is improved.
Reduces or eliminates spots on face and body.
Patients regain self-esteem.
Happier patients with a better quality of life

Frequent questions

Can a person with an intolerance to cold undergo this treatment? It can be used to eliminate skin lesions, but it is not recommended for a patient who has an intolerance to cold to undergo this treatment in the case of wanting to use it as a way to relieve some muscle pain, or improve metabolism, using the cold cabin, they explain from Cryosense .

Is cryotherapy useful to treat psoriasis? According to several studies, the outbreaks of this disease would be substantially improved with cryotherapy, but the psychological side of the patient should not be neglected, since psoriasis develops largely due to this problem and to combat it successfully, it would be necessary to work with a multidisciplinary team , they mention from Cipsa .

Is this treatment for cellulite effective? It is a procedure that can cool areas with fatty accumulations, so it is useful, since the body produces heat in the area to counteract the cold and increase metabolism, detail the specialists of Body’s Estheti

Can I undergo this treatment if I have anemia? There would be no problem for a patient with moderate anemia to undergo this treatment, what should be adapted is tolerance to intense cold, explains

Does cryotherapy leave scars or stains? Any tissue removal treatment can leave a small mark, smaller than the original, this can happen with multiple treatments, not just cryotherapy, adds