Cold therapy has never been so popular as we watch celebrities embrace the Wim Hof Method on BBC’s Freeze the Fear. At Karidis Clinic, however, we’ve long known the benefits of cold therapy for cosmetic surgery healing.
Cryotherapy, sometimes known as cold therapy or ice therapy, is a technique of exposing the body to extremely low temperatures to promote health and wellbeing. Cryotherapy can be administered locally in the form of ice packs, ice massage or ice baths and showers, or you can opt for whole-body cryotherapy. Standing in an enclosed chamber with an opening for the head, the body’s temperature is safely lowered to -130ºC for just a few minutes.
The medical benefits of cryotherapy are numerous: it’s been scientifically proven to speed up the metabolism, as well as reducing inflammation, swelling and sore muscles so many athletes use it to speed up recovery. It’s also linked to improved quality of sleep and boosts our immune response. No wonder it has so many benefits for cosmetic surgery patients.
Any surgical procedure involves trauma to the skin, muscle and other tissues and inflammation is the body’s natural response to fight infection and begin the healing process, but this does mean a period of pain, swelling and bruising. Ice has long been recommended to reduce post-operative swelling and bruising as it temporarily constricts blood flow. Once the source of cold is removed, highly oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood flows to the injured area reducing pain, bruising and swelling.
Cryotherapy works like a super advanced ice pack, treating the entire body and working on a deeper level, while avoiding the burning sensation of icing.
Benefits of cryotherapy for cosmetic surgery patients
- Reduces pain
- Speeds up the dissipation of any swelling
- Alleviates the severity of any bruising
- Reduces muscle tenderness if the muscles have been manipulated
- Boosts your immune system
- Improves sleep quality which is often affected in the post-surgery period
- Speeds up the renewal of skin cells
- Stimulates endorphin release so you get a natural feel good sensation afterwards
Recently, we partnered with LondonCryo, one of London’s leading cryotherapy and wellness clinics with locations in the City, Belgravia and our local high street in St John’s Wood. Head over to our Instagram to meet LondonCryo founder Maria Ensabella as she shows us what they specialise in within their St John’s Wood location, including wellness and recovery treatments and, in particular, whole-body cryotherapy. Their treatments are great for sports recovery, fitness, pain management, anti-ageing and beauty.
Maria has created the Karidis Post-Operative Care Package for our patients. As well as the benefits of whole body cryotherapy, Maria has incorporated red light therapy which increases blood circulation and stimulates lymphatic drainage and a session in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chamber that delivers a quick and dramatic rise in oxygen levels. By using oxygen at this higher pressure, 20 times more oxygen is absorbed and transferred to injured organs and tissues which speeds healing and recovery time in addition to other benefits.
The Karidis Post-Operative Care Package
1 x Whole Body Cryotherapy (2-3 minutes)
1 x Red Light Therapy (10 minutes)
1 x 60 minute Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Session
For Karidis Clinic patients, Maria is offering this package at £180, instead of the usual price for this package is £245. Get in touch with LondonCryo at their St John’s Wood clinic for more information. Email StJohnsWood@LondonCryo.com or call 0203 371 8900 and go through to extension 3.
