The science behind High-Pressure Cryotherapy
A plain-language look at how targeted cooling works, what is known about the body's response to cold, and how HPC differs from ice and whole-body cryotherapy. HPC is the same treatment we previously called HPMC.
What is high-pressure cryotherapy good for?
Real New York Cryogen treatment footage. Treatment area, comfort, and results vary by patient. A free consultation helps determine whether this is a fit.
What is HPC?
High-Pressure Cryotherapy delivers intense, targeted cooling to a specific treatment area using high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO₂). The cooling rapidly lowers the temperature of the skin over the area being treated.
The Viper Skin
During treatment we place a thin protective barrier, called the Viper Skin, over the area. The cold from the high-pressure CO₂ passes through it to reach the skin. It is part of how we deliver treatment: it helps protect the skin and helps keep treatment comfortable.
HPC vs. whole-body cryotherapy chambers
Whole-body cryotherapy chambers cool the whole body with cold vapor. HPC works on one area at a time, such as the lower back, knee, or shoulder, so treatment can focus on where you feel pain.
What a visit looks like
Each treatment area typically takes about 3–6 minutes, and a first visit usually takes 10–20 minutes including the consultation. For most people, we recommend an initial series of four to five sessions, then we check how you are doing. Many patients report relief after one or two visits, although individual responses may vary.
Why people consider it
Many people with muscle, joint, and nerve-related pain look for options that do not involve medication. HPC may help reduce pain and inflammation in the treated area for some people. It is not a replacement for medical care and is not right for everyone, so we review your history before treatment.
Who it may not be right for
People with certain conditions, or who recently had surgery, may need clearance from their doctor first. We never treat over incisions or wounds.
What happens in the body
When skin is cooled, nearby blood vessels narrow. This is called vasoconstriction. As the area naturally rewarms afterward, those vessels widen again (vasodilation).
HPC is intended to help manage pain and inflammation and support mobility and recovery. It is important to separate what is directly observed, such as skin cooling and the vascular response, from broader therapeutic conclusions. Results vary from person to person, and cooling does not guarantee a particular outcome.
Pain signaling and inflammation
Cold can change how nerves signal sensations such as pain, and inflammation is one of the body's responses to irritation or injury. Researchers continue to study how cooling affects these processes. For background on inflammation itself, read How to Reduce Inflammation Without Drugs or Injections.
Seeing temperature: thermal imaging
Thermal imaging can show surface temperature changes across an area. It is a way to observe skin temperature, and it does not by itself measure pain relief or healing.
How HPC compares
| Approach | How cooling is delivered | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| HPC | Targeted, high-pressure CO₂ applied to one defined area | Seconds to minutes per area |
| Ice pack | Gradual, less controlled surface cooling | Often 15–20 minutes |
| Whole-body cryotherapy | Full-body exposure to extreme cold, usually in a chamber | A few minutes, whole body |
Typical HPC treatment takes about 3–6 minutes per area, and a first visit usually takes 10–20 minutes including the consultation.
Sources
A referenced list of peer-reviewed sources will appear here. Each source must be verified by the clinic before publishing.
This page is educational and is not medical advice.