No preparation is required usually. With a probe, spray, or swab, an icy substance most commonly liquid nitrogen is applied to a small area that create these freezing temperatures. When applied directly to the skin, the sudden and intense cold creates formations of ice crystals inside the skin cells, killing the undesired cells on contact. The whole procedure takes a few minutes at most. Cryo means “ice cold” in Greek, and the patient can expect to feel the cold, but little pain. Depending on the case, there may be one round of cryotherapy, or several.
Area may be sensitive and scab over for a brief period, or a small blister may form. If the area removed was large, there may be some swelling or minor scarring
After treatment, patients will need to keep the skin clean and sometimes wear a small bandage to protect the new skin as it forms.
