How it works

First cycle – Freeze
The applicator is held as close as possible to the skin
imperfection and moved quickly towards and away
from it. This could be from 1-30 seconds, depending
on the size and depth.

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Thaw
After the first freeze cycle, the tissue is allowed to
thaw for about 30 seconds.

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Second cycle – Freeze
Now the second freeze cycle will begin. The tissue will
freeze faster than during the first freezing cycle.

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The CryoPen™ freezes at a rate of approximately 1mm per 5 seconds.

1mm = 5 seconds

2mm = 10seconds

3mm = 15 seconds

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Are there any side effects?

Cryotherapy is relatively low risk. There are a few side effects that may occur as a result of treatment, including:
• Pigmentary changes (hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation) if this happens skin colour normally returns after a few months.
• Nerve damage (particularly in areas where nerves lie close to the surface of the skin, on fingers, wrist, area behind the ear) Reports show that normal sensitivity returns after a few months.
• Shards of frozen ice (minor shards of frozen ice may blow out, that will thaw on contact with healthy skin)
• Hair follicle damage and permanent alopecia (especially when treating area on sites with coarse terminal hair).

Discuss any concerns you have with your clinician.

How long are Cryopen™ treatments?

The duration of the treatment time will depend on the surface area and the thickness of the tissue being treated. Upon the clinical evaluation of the thickness of the area, the clinician will choose an application time from 1 to 30 seconds.

How much will the treatment cost?

The cost of treatment will depend on the size of the area. Make an appointment with us to discuss costs and to assess your area.

How safe is cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is a relatively low-risk procedure. Cryopen™ delivers N2O directly to the area, and not the healthy surrounding tissue. Cryopen™ is both CE and FDA registered.

Is the treatment painful?

There will be a pain sensation similar to a stinging nettle on the skin when the nitrous oxide reaches the bottom of the area.

There might be a little residual stinging for a few minutes after treatment.

 

POST TREATMENT INFORMATION

If you have had a treatment to remove a skin lesion, you might like to know what to expect in the coming days. 

While there is very little aftercare required, there are a few things you should be aware of.

 

Blisters
Blistering can happen with any cryotherapy treatment and is indiscriminate. The Cryopen is the most effective way of avoiding blisters as we are only treating the affected area and not healthy tissue.

If a blister does appear, please don’t pop it. It will go down on its own. If it pops, weeping may occur. If so use a smear of Savlon or Germolene cream twice a day. An adhesive dressing such as a plaster can be used to cover the area to protect it.

Skin Tags
These turn black at the base and drop off over a period of one to six weeks. Larger skin tags of 3mm+ may need a second freeze. Please contact us after six weeks if they need to be retreated.  If the area does become tender you can use use Savlon or Germolene twice a day. A plaster can be used to cover the area to stop the treated area being irritated by clothing rubbing on it.

Warts and Verrucae
It is recommended if they are still there, warts and verrucae should be re-treated 4 weeks after your first treatment. There is no aftercare apart from if the treated area develops a blister.

Milia
These are superficial keratin filled epidermal cysts and normally flatten and disappear with Cryotherapy quite quickly. There is no need to do anything other than follow the blister advice if one appears

Pigmentation and cherry Angiomas
The treated area may raise and look like a bee-sting. Do not worry this is perfectly normal. The redness will subside in a few hours.

General advice for all skin lesions
In the case of all lesions, over the next 24 hours the area will go darker and develop a crust on the surface. Do not pick this off. When it naturally falls away you will see new skin which is a shiny pink colour.  This is not scarring. It will re pigment over the following weeks and could take several months.

The histamine in the area which was treated will create an itchy sensation for between ten and sixty minutes, do not worry this is perfectly normal.

Do not pick the treated area at any time after treatment otherwise the area will take longer to heal.  If a wheel/scab is knocked off accidentally it will also take longer to heal, but you should still have the same outcome of a successful treatment.

Please use a sunblock factor 50 on any pigmentation removal until it has re-pigmented, this may take up to eight weeks.

You can continue to use make up, deodorant or perfumes on treated areas but try and leave for as long as you can on the day of treatment.

If the small crust has not fallen off after four weeks please wait until it has done so before contacting the clinic.

Skin sometimes takes several weeks and even months to regenerate.

If the skin being treated is tanned please remember the healing skin will no longer be tanned. It will eventually re-pigment as it matures.

Permanent alopecia can occur in a treated area which is usually covered with hair.Treatments that do not heal after six weeks should be reviewed by your doctor or dermatologist. Please contact us to tell us if this happens