Are you interested in cryotherapy but nervous about the prospect of submerging yourself in temperatures between -200°F to -300°F? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn how to prepare yourself for a cryotherapy treatment.
Do Your Research
No matter how safe a treatment is—and cryotherapy is extremely safe—youÂ
should never undergo a procedure until you’ve done the proper research. While experts find cryotherapy is completely safe for most people, it is not recommended for pregnant women, those with high blood pressure (>over 150 not controlled by medication), those with major heart or lung conditions, those with poor circulation or severe Raynaud’s Syndrome, those with cold-activated asthma, or those with neuropathy (nerve disease) in the legs or feet.
Find the Right Cryotherapy Treatment for You
You should look into the various forms of cryotherapy and choose the one that’s right for you. The most popular form of cryotherapy is whole body cryotherapy, which is designed to improve athletic recovery and performance, decrease joint pain and inflammation, increase metabolism, heal skin, and provide deeper sleep and better moods. Localized cryotherapy is a good option if there is a certain spot on your body that’s bothering you; it increases microcirculation, reduces pain and inflammation, and boosts endorphins. Finally, if you’re looking for a purely cosmetic cryotherapy treatment, you could try a cryotherapy facial, in which collagen production is stimulated, fine lines and pores are reduced, and facial redness and inflammation are decreased. All three procedures utilize essentially the same technology (vaporized liquid nitrogen), the only difference is where on the body that technology is applied.
Find the Right Cryotherapy Clinic for You
This is more straightforward and quite geographically specific, but it is crucial to find a well-regarded cryotherapy clinic near you. Make sure you look at the reviews of your local clinic before signing up. If you’re in the Chicagoland area, check out The CryoBar. With three locations in the city––one in Lincoln Park, one in the West Loop, and one in Bucktown––CryoBar is there to fulfill all your cryotherapy wants and needs. While not covered by traditional insurance, cryotherapy may be covered by your Health Saving/Flexible Spending Accounts for non-aesthetic services.
What to Expect When You Arrive at the Cryotherapy Clinic
Your local cryotherapy clinic should provide you with everything you need. StaffÂ
will meet with you to discuss your goals and desires, and answer any questions that you might have. The #1 goal of any good cryotherapy clinician is to make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible. There will be a bit of paperwork to fill out, but this is only to assess whether you have pre-existing conditions that might not gel well with the treatment. From there, you will be taken to a private room where you can undress and remove any metal jewelry (don’t worry, socks and robes will be provided in most clinics!) Check in with your clinic rep to get the 4-1-1 on undergarment protocol as those rules could be different from clinic to clinic. And then, just like that, you’re ready to begin your cryotherapy journey!
What to Do After Your Cryotherapy Treatment
Relish in it! After your cryotherapy treatment has finished (a whole body cryotherapy treatment takes three to five minutes, a localized cryotherapy treatment takes five to ten minutes, and a cryotherapy facial also takes about ten minutes), you’ll immediately start feeling buoyant and rejuvenated. As your body temperature begins returning to normal, blood vessels dilate and endorphins–– the hormones that make us feel alert and energetic––rush through the body. What’s more, these effects typically last around six to eight hours. Some cryotherapy advocates even suggest that, in an effort to warm itself back to equilibrium, the body undergoes a metabolic reaction that can burn up to 800 calories in the hours proceeding treatment. Just make sure to drink plenty of water, as this will help your body temperature return to normal even quicker.
Come Back Soon
Once you’ve experienced your first cryotherapy treatment, your next step is to plan your next session! The more you do cryotherapy the better you’ll feel. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to get in a cryosauna two to three times per week for about three weeks when first beginning your cryotherapy journey. This is because it takes some time for the body to have its full metabolic and hormetic responses to the extreme cold. That’s not to say a single cryotherapy session won’t be of great benefit––it can aid recovery time and improve mood––but the full benefits of cryotherapy won’t be activated unless the treatment is repeated. Whole body cryotherapy, localized cryotherapy, and
cryotherapy facials can be safely done up to two times per day.
We hope you’ve found this primer on how to prepare for cryotherapy helpful. If you’re still feeling nervous about the idea of cryotherapy, rest assured, your reaction is completely reasonable! We encourage you to give us a try anyway, since some of the biggest athletes and celebrities in the world consider this form of therapy to be transformative. Whether whole body, localized, or facial cryotherapy, cryotherapy is likely for you!
