X°CRYO FAQ
• What is the X°Cryo?
The X°CRYO is an electric local cryotherapy and cryo facial device that offers a better and safer experience than liquid nitrogen-based units. Used for dermatology, sports medicine, and more. It targets specific areas of the skin to produce thermal shock with no risk of side effects and without affecting surrounding areas. With multiple head attachments, almost any part of the body can be treated (i.e. knees, ankles, wrists, neck, shoulders, face), and it’s incredibly user-friendly. A typical treatment is comparable to hours of “icing,” and is much more powerful and efficient.
• What are the benefits?
• Wellness: reduces swelling, liquid retention, joint pain, inflammations, and improves blood circulation.
• Health: accelerates recovery from injuries and medical operations. Relief for chronic pains and arthritis.
• Beauty: reverses signs of aging, promotes even skin tone, reduces cellulite, increases collagen production and provides efficient treatment of variety of skin disorders. Cryo facials are also ideal for reducing puffiness, sagging skin and acne.
• Sports: accelerates muscle recovery, reduces lactic acid and improves muscle mobility and overall elasticity. Helps with all sports injuries, back, neck and shoulder pains, sprains, strains and other soft tissue pains.
• Should I be seeking Local or Whole Body Cryotherapy?
The type of cryotherapy you should use is based on what you are hoping to achieve. Local cryotherapy is ideal for providing efficient treatment to a specific area, while whole body cryotherapy is beneficial for stimulating systems in the entire body. At Float Seattle Greenwood, we only have local cryotherapy, but can certainly recommend some places to go for whole-body treatments.
• At which locations do you have Local Cryo?
We currently have an X°CRYO Machine at our Greenwood location only.
• How long is each treatment?
A typical Local Cryo treatment lasts 2-3 minutes, depending on the area of focus and the individual’s tolerance for cold.
• What do I get for a single session?
The X°Cryo is booked for 15 minutes schedule blocks and you may use it for up 1-3 different treatment areas during that time.
• Is Local Cryotherapy painful?
Our staff are fully trained and prioritize safety. During a local cryotherapy session, the temperature of the air blown on the skin may reach as low as -120°F. The vapor is very cold, but it is definitely bearable and not as intense as liquid nitrogen. We monitor you during your session to ensure maximum results without risking frostbite.
• Do I need to do anything to prepare for my first treatment?
No special preparation is needed prior to arriving. However, we do ask that you do not apply any lotion or moisturizer to your skin an hour before your session. If you are coming from a workout or game and are covered in perspiration, we will provide you with a towel.
Please let us know in the appointment notes what you would like treated.
It’s recommended to wear athletic clothing to hike up pants, etc. for harder-to-reach areas of the body. If you need privacy for any reason, please call to arrange a time.
• How often should I use Local Cryotherapy?
You can get a local cryotherapy treatment as often as once a day! However, the frequency of your sessions is very dependent on what you are using cryotherapy for. Depending on the condition of treatment, it’s recommended to do around 10 treatments in the first month to maximize your results. After that you can take fewer treatments spaced further apart to maintain and improve on your results (e.g. once or twice every week).
For acute injuries, it’s recommended to do 5-7 treatments in the first week, and then taper off to 2-3/week afterwards.
• Do you do walk-ins?
We do, but it is not guaranteed. We're typically booked up the day of, especially on the weekends. We prefer that you call in to book, or check out the schedule below. If we have a busy schedule, our guests with float appointment bookings are our priority and you may have to wait. (206) 673-5132, ext 3
• Who should not use the X°CRYO?
There are not many contraindications for local cryotherapy treatments. However, if you have open wounds, allergies to cold, or Raynaud’s disease, do NOT use cryotherapy.
• Who developed this technology?
Whole body cryotherapy was originally developed in Japan in 1978 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and the benefits have been studied and refined in Europe since that time.
The X°Cryo was developed by a Finnish company, Cryotech Nordic, in an effort to make cryotherapy more approachable, safe, and user-friendly. The electric cooling system is much easier to use than units that need CO2 or liquid nitrogen.
• Why add Local Cryotherapy at a Float center?
Good question! While floating will always be our main thing, we’ve been wanting to add additional healing modalities to our studios for a long time. Our mission is to help you live a happier and healthier life, and the complimentary benefits and user-friendly approach offered by the X°CRYO are a great fit. Greenwood is our test for this new offering, and we may decide to add it to our other studios in the near future.
• Can/should I combine the X°CRYO with a float session?
Absolutely! If you’re recovering from an injury or any chronic aches & pains, a treatment right before a float can help reduce inflammation and allow your body to relax more quickly during your float session.
After a float, a cryo facial is an awesome pairing to reawaken your senses and liven you up for the rest of the day!