Exploring the role of cryotherapy in plastic surgery: mechanisms, applications, and future directions

Cryotherapy, the use of cold temperatures for therapeutic purposes, has long been utilized across medical disciplines for pain management, reducing inflammation, and enhancing recovery. This narrative review aims to evaluate its role within plastic surgery, particularly its effectiveness and safety in improving patient outcomes. Cryotherapy's mechanisms, such as vasoconstriction and inflammation modulation, offer potential advantages in postoperative care, wound healing, and non-invasive aesthetic treatments. Literature reveals its efficacy in managing postoperative pain and reducing swelling, making it particularly beneficial in procedures like rhinoplasty and keloid treatment. Intralesional cryotherapy particularly, shows promise in reducing keloid scar volumes after a single session, offering improved patient satisfaction. Despite these promising applications, cryotherapy remains underutilized within plastic surgery, and research into its broader implementation is limited. Further studies are needed to explore its long-term effects, specific applications in reconstructive surgeries, and to address the challenges of variability in outcomes across different skin types. As non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures gain popularity, cryotherapy may play an increasingly central role in both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, offering a low-risk, high-reward option for enhancing patient care. This review identifies gaps in current knowledge and suggests areas for future investigation, positioning cryotherapy as a promising adjunctive therapy within the evolving field of plastic surgery. Level of Evidence: Not gradable