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Skin Renewal Doctors all have a broad knowledge, background and passion for aesthetic medicine. Please feel free to ask them your questions and concerns.

Treatments
Treatments

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is done to destroy a variety of benign skin growths, such as warts and age spots, pre-cancerous lesions (such as actinic keratoses), and malignant lesions (such as basal cell and squamous cell cancers). The goal of cryotherapy is to freeze and destroy targeted skin growths while preserving the surrounding skin from injury.

Cryotherapy at a glance

  • Best Results
    Best Results

    1 - 4

  • Anaesthetic
    Anaesthetic

    None

  • Duration
    Duration of Results

    12 - 18 months

  • Procedure Time
    Procedure Time

    60 mins

  • Treatment Recovery
    Treatment Recovery

    1 - 3 weeks

  • Skin Specialist
    Skin Specialist

    Therapist

  • Risk Compliance
    Risks & Complications

    Medium

  • Back to Work
    Back To Work

    Next day

Cryotherapy is a technique that uses an extremely cold liquid or a medical instrument instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal skin cells that require removal. The technique has been in use since the turn of the century, but modern techniques have made it widely available to dermatologists and primary care doctors. The technique is also called cryosurgery.

frequently asked
questions

Are Cryotherapy treatments available at all Skin Renewal branches?
What are the typical areas that are treated?

Cryotherapy is not recommended for certain areas of the body because of the danger of destruction of tissue or unacceptable scarring. These areas include skin that overlies nerves, the corners of the eyes, the fold of skin between the nose and lip, the skin surrounding the nostrils, and the border between the lips and the rest of the face.

Lesions that are suspected or known to be malignant melanoma should not be treated with cryotherapy, but should instead be removed surgically. Similarly, basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas that have reappeared at the site of a previously treated tumor should also be removed surgically. If it remains unclear whether a growth is benign or malignant, a sample of tissue should be removed for analysis (biopsy) by a pathologist before any attempts to destroy the lesion with cryotherapy.

Care should be taken in people with diabetes or certain circulation problems when cryotherapy is considered for growths located on their lower legs, ankles, and feet. In these patients, healing can be poor and the risk of infection can be higher than for other patients.

How does Cryotherapy work?

There are two main techniques to performing cryotherapy. In the simplest technique, usually reserved for warts and other benign skin growths, the physician will dip a cotton swab or other applicator into a cup containing a "cryogen," such as liquid nitrogen, and apply it directly to the skin growth to freeze it. The goal is to freeze the skin growth as quickly as possible, and then let it thaw slowly to cause maximum destruction of the skin cells. A second application may be necessary depending on the size of the growth.

In another cryotherapy technique, a device is used to direct a small spray of liquid nitrogen or other cryogens directly onto the skin growth. Freezing may last from five to 20 seconds, depending on the size of the lesion. A second freeze-thaw cycle may be required.

What To Expect after Cryotherapy?

Redness, swelling, and the formation of a blister at the site of cryotherapy are all expected results of the treatment. A gauze dressing is applied and patients should wash the site three or four times daily while fluid continues to ooze from the wound, usually for five to 14 days. A dry crust then forms that falls off by itself. Wounds on the head and neck may take four to six weeks to heal, but those on the body, arms, and legs can take longer. Some patients experience pain at the site following the treatment. This can usually be eased a pain killer as directed by the doctor.

Is Cryotherapy safe?

Cryotherapy poses little risk and can be well-tolerated by the elderly and other patients who are not good candidates for other surgical procedures. As with other surgical procedures, there is some risk of scarring, infection, and damage to underlying skin and tissue. This is especially true of areas that keloids easily such as the décolleté ( chest) area and the hands and lower forearms. These risks are generally minimal in the hands of experienced users of cryotherapy.

Although cryotherapy is a relatively low-risk procedure, some side effects may occur as a result of the treatment.

They include:

  • Infection. Though uncommon, infection is more likely on the lower legs where healing can take several months.
  • Pigmentary changes. Both hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) are possible after cryotherapy. Both generally last a few months but can be longer-lasting.
  • Keloid formation on the chest area.
  • Nerve damage. Though rare, damage to nerves is possible, particularly in areas where they lie closer to the surface of the skin, such as the fingers, the wrist, and the area behind the ear. Reports suggest this will disappear within several months.
Is there another way to get the same effect?

At Skin Renewal we offer the Acutip 500™ or the LimeLight™ or medium depth peels containing TCA to treat age or sun spots.

Frequently asked questions

Are Cryotherapy treatments available at all Skin Renewal branches?
What are the typical areas that are treated?

Cryotherapy is not recommended for certain areas of the body because of the danger of destruction of tissue or unacceptable scarring. These areas include skin that overlies nerves, the corners of the eyes, the fold of skin between the nose and lip, the skin surrounding the nostrils, and the border between the lips and the rest of the face.

Lesions that are suspected or known to be malignant melanoma should not be treated with cryotherapy, but should instead be removed surgically. Similarly, basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas that have reappeared at the site of a previously treated tumor should also be removed surgically. If it remains unclear whether a growth is benign or malignant, a sample of tissue should be removed for analysis (biopsy) by a pathologist before any attempts to destroy the lesion with cryotherapy.

Care should be taken in people with diabetes or certain circulation problems when cryotherapy is considered for growths located on their lower legs, ankles, and feet. In these patients, healing can be poor and the risk of infection can be higher than for other patients.

How does Cryotherapy work?

There are two main techniques to performing cryotherapy. In the simplest technique, usually reserved for warts and other benign skin growths, the physician will dip a cotton swab or other applicator into a cup containing a "cryogen," such as liquid nitrogen, and apply it directly to the skin growth to freeze it. The goal is to freeze the skin growth as quickly as possible, and then let it thaw slowly to cause maximum destruction of the skin cells. A second application may be necessary depending on the size of the growth.

In another cryotherapy technique, a device is used to direct a small spray of liquid nitrogen or other cryogens directly onto the skin growth. Freezing may last from five to 20 seconds, depending on the size of the lesion. A second freeze-thaw cycle may be required.

What To Expect after Cryotherapy?

Redness, swelling, and the formation of a blister at the site of cryotherapy are all expected results of the treatment. A gauze dressing is applied and patients should wash the site three or four times daily while fluid continues to ooze from the wound, usually for five to 14 days. A dry crust then forms that falls off by itself. Wounds on the head and neck may take four to six weeks to heal, but those on the body, arms, and legs can take longer. Some patients experience pain at the site following the treatment. This can usually be eased a pain killer as directed by the doctor.

Is Cryotherapy safe?

Cryotherapy poses little risk and can be well-tolerated by the elderly and other patients who are not good candidates for other surgical procedures. As with other surgical procedures, there is some risk of scarring, infection, and damage to underlying skin and tissue. This is especially true of areas that keloids easily such as the décolleté ( chest) area and the hands and lower forearms. These risks are generally minimal in the hands of experienced users of cryotherapy.

Although cryotherapy is a relatively low-risk procedure, some side effects may occur as a result of the treatment.

They include:

  • Infection. Though uncommon, infection is more likely on the lower legs where healing can take several months.
  • Pigmentary changes. Both hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) are possible after cryotherapy. Both generally last a few months but can be longer-lasting.
  • Keloid formation on the chest area.
  • Nerve damage. Though rare, damage to nerves is possible, particularly in areas where they lie closer to the surface of the skin, such as the fingers, the wrist, and the area behind the ear. Reports suggest this will disappear within several months.
Is there another way to get the same effect?

At Skin Renewal we offer the Acutip 500™ or the LimeLight™ or medium depth peels containing TCA to treat age or sun spots.

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As a client who has been coming here for years, a review of Skin Renewal is long overdue! I've been with them from the time they were in Windermere to where they are now in Florida Road. From the receptionists to the nurses, you are always greeted with warm, genuine smiles. They are all extremely accommodation, very patient and highly professional. As an ozone therapy patient, Nurse Mercedes is highly knowledgeable and passionate about ozone. All the friendly staff go out of their way to give you royal treatment, to the point where I even referred my parents to them. If I could give Skin Renewal 6 out of 5 stars, I would!

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I've been shopping around for a few months now and I tried having what I thought were either calluses or warts removed. I've spent over R2,000.00 up till now having them frozen by different doctors close to home and decided to give up on it for a while. A mate of mine recommended this place a few weeks back and I decided to give it a shot. They were extremely accommodating and friendly! Dr. Helenka saw me as a was a little late and then still got accommodated even though I couldn't see Dr. Graham. Dr. Helenka was extremely accommodating, friendly and professional. The removal was on my fingers, 2 hard calluses/warts had to be removed and she did so effortlessly, with extreme precision and literally zero pain. There was a tiny sting for the initial injection to numb my finger but beyond that it was perfect and she explained the whole process flawlessly! I'm truly grateful for their patience and support to me. I recommend trying them!

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Dit was 'n hemelse ervaring. Baie skoon, netjies met vriendelike, goed opgeleide personeel. Ek sal beslis weer gaan na Skin Renewal in Somerset Wes!

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