SKIN | CRYOTHERAPY
Cryotherapy: Liquid Nitrogen Treatment for Skin Lesions
A quick, effective freezing treatment for warts, skin tags and sun-damage lesions. Consultant-led at Berkshire Grove Hospital, with no surgery, no stitches, and most patients back to normal the same day.
Treatment time
A few minutes
Anaesthetic
Rarely needed
Healing
7 to 21 days
Normal activity
Same day
IS THIS YOU?
Most people reading this page are thinking one of these things:
I've got a wart that won't shift, whatever I try from the chemist.
These warty patches have multiplied over the years and I'd like them gone.
My GP mentioned sun-damage patches that ought to be treated.
I want a skin tag removed without surgery or a scar.
I've been told it's harmless, but I'd still rather it wasn't there.
I don't want a fuss. One quick appointment would suit me fine.
If it's benign and freezable, this is usually the quickest, simplest way to deal with it. And every lesion is properly assessed first, so you're never treating the wrong thing.
FREEZING TREATMENT, EXPLAINED
What is cryotherapy and how does it work?
Cryotherapy, also called liquid nitrogen treatment or freezing treatment, is a simple, non-surgical procedure that uses controlled extreme cold to destroy abnormal skin tissue. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion in short bursts; the frozen cells die off and are naturally shed as healthy new skin regenerates underneath. One common mix-up worth clearing up: this is medical cryotherapy for skin lesions, not the whole-body cold chambers you'll find in spas and gyms.
At Apex, treatment is delivered with a cryotherapy machine or a precision pen depending on the lesion's size and location, by consultant dermatologists and nurse specialists, freezing only the unwanted tissue while protecting the healthy skin around it.
Why patients choose it: it's fast (minutes, not hours), there are no incisions, stitches or anaesthetic in most cases, cosmetic results are excellent, multiple lesions can be treated in a single visit, and it suits patients whose health makes surgery less appropriate.
At Apex, treatment is delivered with a cryotherapy machine or a precision pen depending on the lesion's size and location, by consultant dermatologists and nurse specialists, freezing only the unwanted tissue while protecting the healthy skin around it.
Why patients choose it: it's fast (minutes, not hours), there are no incisions, stitches or anaesthetic in most cases, cosmetic results are excellent, multiple lesions can be treated in a single visit, and it suits patients whose health makes surgery less appropriate.
WHAT IT TREATS
What can cryotherapy treat?
Including stubborn or multiple warts that haven't responded to home treatments.
The raised, warty lesions that appear with age.
Removed quickly, without surgery.
Pre-cancerous sun-damage patches, treated before they can progress.
Apex Medical
Expert care for the
skin you live in.
WHICH TREATMENT IS RIGHT?
Freezing, surgery, or leave it alone?
Some lesions are best frozen. Some are better surgically removed: larger lesions, those needing histology, or where a single definitive session is preferred. Pre-cancerous fields sometimes respond better to photodynamic therapy. And some need nothing but reassurance. The consultation is where that call gets made, on clinical grounds rather than on what's easiest to sell you.
One honest expectation to set: deeper warts and larger keratoses may need two or more freezing sessions a few weeks apart, and we'll tell you the realistic number upfront.
One honest expectation to set: deeper warts and larger keratoses may need two or more freezing sessions a few weeks apart, and we'll tell you the realistic number upfront.
Consultant-led care
Led by a Skin Cancer
Specialist You Can Trust.
Apex was founded by Mr Kuen Yeow Chin, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Skin Cancer Lead at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. He works closely with consultant dermatologists in the NHS and private sector, and has extensive experience treating patients diagnosed with melanoma and other skin cancers.
Cryotherapy at Apex is delivered by consultant dermatologists and specialist skin cancer nurses, with every lesion assessed before treatment. If anything ever needs a closer look, you're already in the right clinic: escalation to a consultant is immediate, and the person reviewing your lesion is part of the team that would treat it.
Cryotherapy at Apex is delivered by consultant dermatologists and specialist skin cancer nurses, with every lesion assessed before treatment. If anything ever needs a closer look, you're already in the right clinic: escalation to a consultant is immediate, and the person reviewing your lesion is part of the team that would treat it.
Your clinical team:
Dr Sara Sherif
Consultant Dermatologist
Diagnosis and management of all skin diseases, including acne, eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer.
Mr Benjamin Chun-Man Lee
Consultant Dermatologist
Diagnosis and management of all skin diseases, including acne, eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer.
Mr Kuen Yeow Chin
Consultant Plastic Surgeon & Skin Cancer Specialist
Founder of Apex and Skin Cancer Lead at Frimley Park, providing surgical care for skin lesions and skin cancer alongside our dermatologists.
YOUR CARE, STEP BY STEP
Quick, precise, and properly checked
Most patients are assessed and treated in a single visit. The freeze itself takes minutes; the healing takes days, and you'll know exactly what normal looks like at every stage.
1
Assessment
Your consultant or specialist nurse examines the lesion and confirms the diagnosis, with dermoscopy where needed. If cryotherapy is right, your plan is explained there and then.
2
Treatment
Liquid nitrogen is applied in short bursts. You'll feel a brief stinging or cold sensation that settles quickly. No anaesthetic is usually needed, and the procedure is complete within minutes.
3
Healing
The area may blister or crust within 24 to 48 hours. That's the treatment working; leave it undisturbed. Healing takes 7 to 21 days depending on the lesion, and most patients resume normal activities the same day.
4
Aftercare and review
Full instructions on cleansing, moisturising and sun protection, and a review appointment if a repeat session is planned.
Transparent Pricing
Cryotherapy pricing
Fixed, transparent pricing with no hidden extras. Your exact quote is confirmed in writing at consultation, before you commit to anything.
Consultation
Every lesion is assessed before treatment, so the right option is chosen first. Your fee is confirmed when you book.
Single Lesion
Liquid nitrogen treatment of a single lesion, assessment included in the same visit where appropriate.
From £500
Additional Lesions
Multiple lesions are treated in the same session wherever possible; your combined quote reflects the number and size of lesions and is confirmed in writing before treatment.
ONGOING CARE
After your treatment
A blister or crust is a normal part of healing; let it fall away naturally. Temporary pigment changes (lightening or darkening of the treated area) are possible, particularly in darker skin tones, and proper aftercare reduces the risk. You'll know when to expect a repeat session if one is planned, and who to call if anything about the healing doesn't look right.
Where to find us
Consultant-Led Care At Berkshire Grove Hospital
Apex Medical is based at Berkshire Grove Hospital, Grove House, Waltham Road, White Waltham, Maidenhead SL6 3TN, with clinics also at the Parkside Suite. Patients travel to us from Maidenhead, Windsor, Reading, Bracknell and Slough, and from across Berkshire, Surrey, Oxfordshire and London, for consultant-led care in a regulated private hospital without long waiting times. On-site parking is available.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm | Saturday by appointment only | Sunday closed
Phone
020 3871 5898
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about cryotherapy at Apex Medical
You'll typically feel a brief stinging, cold or burning sensation lasting a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Discomfort is minimal and no anaesthetic is usually required.
No. Cryotherapy is not a treatment for confirmed skin cancer or suspicious lesions, which need surgical excision and histology. It can, however, treat pre-cancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses, and our team will always guide you to the right option.
In most cases, no. Temporary pigment changes can occur, particularly in darker skin tones, and proper aftercare reduces the risk.
Small skin tags and superficial warts often resolve after a single session. Deeper warts, larger keratoses or recurrent lesions may need two or more treatments, spaced a few weeks apart. We'll give you a realistic number at assessment.
Typically 7 to 14 days, sometimes up to 21 for larger lesions. A blister or crust forms and falls away naturally, and you'll be advised on wound care to support clean healing.
Skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, viral warts and pre-cancerous actinic keratoses. Every lesion is assessed before treatment to rule out anything that needs a different approach.
Yes. Consultant-led cryotherapy is available at Berkshire Grove Hospital in Maidenhead, with patients visiting from Windsor, Reading, Slough and across Berkshire, London and Surrey.
Treatment starts from £500, varying with the number and size of lesions treated in your session. You'll have an exact written quote at consultation before any treatment goes ahead.
Patient Stories.
In our patients' own words
ARRANGE YOUR TREATMENT
Same-Week Appointments
Book your cryotherapy appointment
Most cryotherapy patients are in and out within half an hour, wondering why they put it off for so long. Whether it's one stubborn wart or several years' worth of accumulated lesions, the first step is the same: a quick assessment, an honest recommendation, and treatment often on the same visit.
Consultant-led private skin, hands and aesthetic care across Berkshire. Precise, caring and expert.