What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, also known as cryoablation, is a form of treatment that utilizes extreme cold to remove abnormal tissue. The most common substances used to create the freezing cold temperatures are liquid nitrogen and argon gas. Once applied to the affected area, whether internal or external, the cells will freeze and therefore die, calling on the immune system to clear out the tissue and produce new.
What is cryotherapy used for?
The most common reason doctors recommend cryotherapy is for certain skin conditions, like removal of warts or skin tags, and to treat some cancers, like prostate, cervical or liver cancer, though it’s also been a treatment method for certain cases of bone cancer, precancerous cells, retinoblastoma (retina cancer in children), and other skin conditions like dark spots.
What should I expect during cryotherapy?
Preparing for cryotherapy is simple. You may be asked to stop taking certain medications a few days before, or limit how much you eat or drink. You may also need a designated party to drive you home from your cryotherapy treatment but always discuss logistics with your doctor ahead of time to be sure you’re prepared.
During an external cryotherapy treatment, your doctor may provide the cold solution with a device that sprays the liquid or via a cotton swab. Liquid nitrogen is typically what’s used in external cryotherapy.
For internal cryotherapy, a small probe is inserted through an incision in the skin, which may or may not be guided by ultrasound imaging. In instances of internal cryotherapy, local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used, too.
What should I expect after cryotherapy?
Recovery from cryotherapy based on your individual circumstances, but generally, an externally treated spot will turn red, blister and heal in one to three weeks. Following internal cryotherapy, mild pain or soreness is expected for up to three days. In the case of cryotherapy to treat cervical cancer cells, women may experience watery discharge for up to a few weeks, but it could subside sooner than that.
What are the risks of cryotherapy?
There are a few risks of cryotherapy despite it being a minimally invasive treatment option. Complications can include:
- Bleeding
- Cramping
- Pain
- Bone fractures
- Nerve damage resulting in loss of feeling
- Swelling
- Scaring
- Skin infections