Cryo Skin Care

Cryo Skin Care in Seoul

Medically reviewed by Dr. Chae-ho Lee, Medical Director, Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae; Member, Korean Society of Clinical Aesthetic Medicine

Doctor profile · Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae, Seoul

Cryo Skin Care is a cooling facial that uses a device held at below-freezing temperatures to soothe, hydrate, and calm the skin. At Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae in Seoul, this cryo facial is a session of about 20 minutes, chosen most often for sensitive or red skin and for easing heat and discomfort after a laser or injection treatment. It involves no needles, no anesthesia, and generally no downtime.

What Is Cryo Skin Care?

Cryo Skin Care is a non-surgical cooling treatment in which a device applies controlled, below-freezing cold to the face to soothe the skin, support hydration, and care for skin elasticity.

• Targeted cold: the cooling is applied only to the treatment area, with the intensity matched to the individual's skin.
• Soothing effect: cold is used to calm skin that feels warm, irritated, or reactive, including after other in-clinic procedures.
• Hydration and elasticity care: the clinic describes the treatment as supporting moisture and the feel of skin elasticity.
• Calmer-looking skin: it is also described as helping calm inflammation and making pores look tighter.
• Booster support: when performed alongside skin boosters, cooling is used to support product penetration.

Cooling facial, whole-body cryotherapy, and cryosurgery are different things

The word "cryo" covers very different treatments, and it helps to separate them. Cryo Skin Care is a localized, short facial session for comfort and skin care. Whole-body cryotherapy, by contrast, exposes nearly the entire body to subzero temperatures for two to four minutes in a chamber. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that the claimed benefits of whole-body cryotherapy remain unproven while extreme cold has caused skin injuries such as frostbite and cold panniculitis. Cryosurgery is different again: dermatologists freeze a small area of skin to remove warts and other lesions, and the AAD describes it as an accepted medical procedure. A cooling facial is neither of these.

What the evidence can and cannot tell you

Published research on cooling facials as a stand-alone skin treatment is limited, so the benefits described here are the clinic's stated aims rather than findings from large trials. Cooling as a companion to laser treatment is better established. In laser dermatology, skin cooling is built into most laser systems to protect the outer skin, reduce pain and redness, and limit swelling after treatment, according to a review in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. Those findings concern cooling used with lasers, not this facial specifically, but they explain why cold is a natural partner for heat-based procedures.

Who Performs Cryo Skin Care at Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae

Dr. Chae-ho Lee
Medical Director at Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae

Cryo Skin Care is performed under Dr. Chae-ho Lee, the Medical Director and the clinic's only physician. Cryo skin care is one of his named subspecialty techniques, alongside LDM and the LHALA peel, within the skin care and facial category he lists among his core specializations. Because the clinic works on a one-on-one consultation principle, he is the one who looks at your redness, sensitivity, and recent procedures and decides whether cooling care is appropriate and at what intensity. English consultation and interpretation are available if you need them.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Cryo Skin Care?

Cooling care is aimed at skin that needs calming rather than correction. You may be a suitable candidate if you:

• Have sensitive skin that reacts easily.
• Have visibly red or flushed skin and want it to feel calmer.
• Want soothing and moisturizing care when your skin feels warm, tight, or irritated.
• Have just had a laser or injection treatment and want to reduce heat sensation and discomfort.
• Plan to have skin boosters and want cooling care in the same visit.
• Prefer a short, non-surgical skincare session.

Cryo Skin Care may not be suitable, or may need to be postponed, if you have:

• Significant sensitivity to cold or an unusual reaction to cold.
• Impaired sensation in the treatment area.
• An active skin infection or another active skin condition.
• Open wounds or significant irritation.
• Any other contraindication to cooling treatments identified at assessment.

Suitability is assessed individually, and treatment over irritated or damaged skin only goes ahead after Dr. Lee has assessed it.

What to Expect: Procedure, Recovery, and Results Timeline

Preparing for your appointment

Please come with freshly cleansed skin. Shortly before treatment, skip aggressive exfoliation, strong irritating products, and anything new that could leave your skin highly sensitive. Let the clinic know about any recent laser treatment, injections, other skin procedures, medications, or unusual skin sensitivity.

During the session

1. Assessment: your skin condition, sensitivity, redness, recent procedures, and goals are reviewed.
2. Preparation: the skin is prepared for treatment.
3. Cooling: the device applies below-freezing cold to the targeted area, at an intensity suited to your skin.
4. Finishing care: the session ends with appropriate skincare.

The whole treatment takes about 20 minutes. Cryo Skin Care typically needs no local or general anesthesia. You will feel a distinct cooling sensation, and how comfortable that feels varies from person to person.

Recovery and results timeline

Time after treatment	What usually happens
During and right after	A cooling, soothing effect; skin may feel calmer and more hydrated
First hours	Any mild redness, tingling, or sensitivity usually settles quickly
Same day	Normal activities can generally resume; there is no surgical recovery
About one week later	The next session, if you are following the clinic's recommended weekly interval
Over several sessions	Hydration and skin-condition changes vary with skin type and goals

There is no single fixed final-result date, because outcomes depend on your skin condition and whether cooling is combined with other treatments. The number of sessions also varies with skin type.

Aftercare

Keep the skin hydrated with a moisturizing cream after treatment. Use sunscreen whenever you go outdoors. If cooling was added to a laser or injection visit, follow the aftercare for that procedure as well.

Planning around a trip

Because the session is short and needs no surgical recovery, an extended stay is generally not expected for Cryo Skin Care alone. Flying home is generally possible afterwards if you feel well and have no unexpected skin reaction. If cooling is combined with another procedure, that procedure's travel guidance takes priority.

Combining Cryo Skin Care with Other Treatments

Cooling care is often a supporting step rather than the main event. Any combination is planned at consultation.

• Skin Boosters & Biostimulators — the clinic states that Cryo Skin Care can be performed together with skin boosters, where cooling is used to support product penetration.
• Laser & Skin Rejuvenation — after a laser treatment, cooling care may be considered to help reduce heat sensation and discomfort.
• Injection treatments — after an injectable procedure, cooling may likewise be used to ease heat and discomfort, with timing set by Dr. Lee.

Within the facial category, cooling can also sit inside a customized skin-care plan with other treatments, depending on your skin.

Safety, Precision, and Clinic Standards

Since January 2023, Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae has held registration from Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare to receive international patients. The intensity of cooling is set for each person. Recent procedures and cold sensitivity are reviewed before any session. Treatment is not carried out over irritated or damaged skin unless it has been assessed.

Known risks

Temporary cold discomfort, redness, tingling, or sensitivity can occur. These effects are generally short-lived. Excessive cold exposure can injure the skin, which is why treatment intensity must suit the individual. An excessive response to cold is also possible in people with cold sensitivity or certain skin conditions. Unusual or persistent symptoms should be assessed by a medical professional.

Why intensity matters

The AAD's account of whole-body cryotherapy shows what uncontrolled cold can do: frostbite is the most commonly reported skin injury, and the academy advises that people with conditions such as nerve damage should see a doctor before trying it. A facial cooling device is far more limited in area and duration, but the same principle applies on a small scale. Cold is safe when it is controlled, and anyone with impaired sensation or unusual cold reactions should say so before treatment.

The Bottom Line

• Cryo Skin Care is a short, below-freezing cooling facial aimed at soothing, hydration, and elasticity care.
• It is best suited to sensitive or red skin and to calming heat after laser or injection treatments.
• Sessions take about 20 minutes, with no anesthesia and generally no downtime.
• The clinic recommends weekly sessions, with the number depending on skin type.
• Stand-alone evidence for cooling facials is limited, so expectations should stay modest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a cryo facial painful?
It is a cooling treatment designed to soothe rather than hurt. You will notice a strong cold sensation, and comfort varies between people. No anesthesia is typically needed.

Can I have Cryo Skin Care right after a laser treatment?
Yes, cooling care may be considered after laser or injection treatments to help reduce heat and discomfort. Dr. Lee decides the timing based on the procedure you had and how your skin looks.

How often should I come in?
The clinic recommends sessions at one-week intervals. How many you need depends on your skin type and goals, so there is no fixed course length.

Who should avoid a cooling facial?
People with significant cold sensitivity, impaired sensation, active skin infections, open wounds, or marked irritation should postpone treatment. Mention any unusual reaction to cold at your consultation.

Is this the same as whole-body cryotherapy?
No. Cryo Skin Care cools a targeted area of the face for a short session. Whole-body cryotherapy uses a chamber at extreme subzero temperatures, whose benefits the American Academy of Dermatology describes as unproven.

What should I do after treatment?
Apply a moisturizing cream to keep the skin hydrated and use sunscreen outdoors. If it was combined with another procedure, follow that procedure's aftercare too.

How soon will my skin feel different?
Many people find their skin feels more soothed and hydrated shortly after the session. How much visible change follows, and when, depends on your skin condition and on whether cooling is paired with other treatments.

What if something looks wrong once I am home?
Reach the clinic through its website or by phone and describe the symptom. Redness or sensitivity that persists or worsens should also be seen by a local doctor.

Book a Consultation at Doctorpetit Clinic Hongdae

To find out whether Cryo Skin Care in Seoul suits your skin, or whether it is best added to a laser or booster visit, book a personal consultation with Dr. Lee. The clinic is on the 8th floor of the Wookdo Building, 151 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu; leave Hongik University Station by Exit 1 and it is directly outside. Book or ask a question here, and browse before-and-after photos from the clinic.

Disclaimer

Treatment suitability, expected results, recovery time, risks, and potential side effects vary by individual. The information provided is for general informational purposes and does not replace an in-person medical consultation. Patients should discuss their medical history, treatment goals, and individual circumstances with a qualified medical professional before undergoing treatment.

Sources & Further Reading

• AAD — Whole Body Cryotherapy Can Be Hazardous to Your Skin
• J Cutan Aesthet Surg — Cooling Devices in Laser Therapy