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Cryo 101

TL;DR — Cryotherapy in plain English

Cryotherapy uses controlled sub-zero cold to briefly cool the skin — calming inflammation and soreness, and, in targeted form, gently refining stubborn areas. At Cryo Sanctuary in Renton, WA, a cryo session runs about 20–30 minutes (only a couple of minutes of cold per area), and a full visit is about 1 hour 15 minutes. New clients can book the $199 Slim. Sculpt. Glow. intro (a $700+ value) — one cryo, one EMS, and one cryofacial — call (425) 629-8592 or book online.

Medical disclaimer. This page is for general wellness information only and is not medical advice. Cryotherapy, EMS body sculpting, and cryofacials are not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. The U.S. FDA has not cleared whole-body cryotherapy for any specific medical condition (per the American Academy of Dermatology). Consult your physician before starting any new wellness protocol — especially if you are pregnant, have a heart condition, Raynaud’s syndrome, a pacemaker, metal implants, or a cold-aggravated condition. Individual results vary.

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Cryo101: 50 Questions Answered About Cryotherapy, EMS Sculpting & Cryofacials

TL;DR — Cryotherapy in plain English

Cryotherapy uses controlled sub-zero cold to briefly cool the skin — calming inflammation and soreness, and, in targeted form, gently refining stubborn areas. At Cryo Sanctuary in Renton, WA, a cryo session runs about 20–30 minutes (only a couple of minutes of cold per area), and a full visit is about 1 hour 15 minutes. New clients can book the $199 Slim. Sculpt. Glow. intro (a $700+ value) — one cryo, one EMS, and one cryofacial — call (425) 629-8592 or book online.

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Medical disclaimer. This page is for general wellness information only and is not medical advice. Cryotherapy, EMS body sculpting, and cryofacials are not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. The U.S. FDA has not cleared whole-body cryotherapy for any specific medical condition (per the American Academy of Dermatology). Consult your physician before starting any new wellness protocol — especially if you are pregnant, have a heart condition, Raynaud’s syndrome, a pacemaker, metal implants, or a cold-aggravated condition. Individual results vary.

Cryotherapy basics

Cryotherapy is a wellness treatment that exposes the body — or a specific area — to extreme cold for a short period of time, typically two to twenty minutes. The goal is to trigger a controlled vasoconstriction and inflammatory response that can reduce muscle soreness, joint pain, skin inflammation, and (in targeted-cooling devices like the one we use at Cryo Sanctuary) localized fat-cell volume. Cryotherapy comes in two main forms: whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) in a chamber, and localized or targeted cryotherapy applied to a specific area with a CO₂ wand. We specialize in localized CO₂ cryotherapy at our Renton, WA studio.

Cryotherapy works by rapidly cooling the skin and the tissue just beneath it, which narrows the blood vessels. When the cold lifts, they open back up and flush fresh, oxygenated blood through the area — that rebound is what drives the calming, recovery effects. With the targeted CO₂ cryotherapy used at Cryo Sanctuary, the cold also supports your body’s own process of gradually refining stubborn areas over the following weeks.

A whole-body cryo session typically lasts 2 to 4 minutes. A targeted cryo session at Cryo Sanctuary runs about 20 to 30 minutes, with only a couple of minutes of actual cold per area. Plan for about a 1 hour 15 minute visit overall — that also includes your consult, EMS, progress photos, and aftercare.

No, cryo slimming and cryotherapy don’t hurt. Most clients describe it as a cooling tingle or “intense breeze,” not pain. Every session is operator-monitored and you can stop any time. Expect about 30 seconds to adjust, then a comfortable cool sensation for the rest of the 20–30 minute session.

The evidence is strongest for muscle recovery, post-exercise inflammation, and certain skin concerns. For body contouring, targeted cold treatments are a well-established, non-invasive way to refine stubborn areas over a series of sessions. Evidence is mixed for systemic weight loss and chronic conditions, so cryotherapy is best seen as a wellness service rather than a medical treatment.

Cryoslimming & body contouring

Cryo slimming uses a gentle, controlled cold spray (sub-zero CO₂) applied to the skin in smooth passes. The cold supports your body’s natural process of refining and gradually clearing stubborn fat over the following weeks. It’s non-invasive, needs no surgery or downtime, and works well on stubborn pinchable areas like the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, and back. Learn more on our cryo slimming service page.

Yes — for the right candidate with the right plan. Most clients see progressive, measurable changes over a series of sessions (typically 4–6 per area). At Cryo Sanctuary we track circumference and take before/after photos at each visit, so your progress is real and easy to see. Cryo slimming refines and contours specific areas rather than changing the number on the scale. See our before & after gallery.

Both use cold, but they feel completely different. CoolSculpting uses suction to clamp a pinched fat pocket and freeze it for 35–60 minutes per area. Cryo slimming at Cryo Sanctuary uses a handheld cold-spray wand massaged gently across the area for about 20–30 minutes — no suction, no clamping — so it’s comfortable and easy to use on curved spots like inner thighs, knees, and chin. It works with your body’s natural process rather than freezing tissue in place.

Most clients start to see visible contouring at 2–4 weeks, with full results around 12 weeks after a series of 4–6 sessions per area, spaced 2 weeks apart. Some clients book up to 10 sessions for stubborn areas or larger zones. We’ll map out a personalized session plan during your free consult based on the area you’re treating and your goals.

Yes — cryo slimming is safe for healthy adults with no contraindications. It’s non-invasive (no needles, anesthesia, or cuts) and every session is operator-monitored. It is not suitable if you are pregnant or have Raynaud’s syndrome, cold-agglutinin disease, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, severe peripheral vascular disease, or recent skin damage in the treatment area. See the Safety section below for the full list.

EMS body sculpting

EMS body sculpting uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to trigger powerful muscle contractions — far more than you can produce voluntarily. These contractions make the muscle adapt and grow, similar to intense strength training, for tighter, more defined abs, glutes, arms, or thighs. Learn more on our EMS body sculpting page.

Yes — peer-reviewed clinical studies and a published systematic review on PubMed report measurable increases in muscle thickness (~16%) and reductions in subcutaneous fat (~19%) in the treated area after a 4-session course. Results require a complete series and are temporary without maintenance — typically every 6 months — since the muscle adaptation reverses without continued stimulus.

The standard clinical protocol is 4 sessions over 2 weeks (two sessions per week, 2–3 days apart). Some clients add 2 maintenance sessions every 6 months to retain muscle adaptation. We’ll recommend a session count during your consult based on your goals and target area.

Brand-name Emsculpt or Emsculpt Neo often runs $750–$1,000+ per session. At Cryo Sanctuary, a single EMS session is $299, and multi-session packages lower the per-session cost — see our Packages page. New clients can also start with the $199 Slim. Sculpt. Glow. intro (cryo + EMS + cryofacial).

Cryofacials & skin treatments

A cryofacial is a non-invasive facial treatment that uses cooled CO₂ or nitrogen vapor to lower skin temperature on the face, neck, and décolleté for 8–12 minutes. The cold triggers vasoconstriction-then-rebound, increased microcirculation, collagen stimulation, and pore tightening. Many clients use cryofacials before events for an immediate brightness and tightness effect. Learn more on our cryofacial service page.

Reported benefits: reduced puffiness and under-eye darkness, immediate skin brightness and tightness lasting 24–48 hours, gradual reduction of fine lines with consistent treatment, calmer redness and irritation, and increased product absorption right after the treatment. Cryofacials also help manage acne and rosacea-prone skin by tightening oil-producing follicles and reducing inflammation.

For visible cumulative results, plan 1–3 sessions per week for the first 4–6 weeks, then drop to maintenance every 3–5 weeks. For event prep, a single cryofacial 24–48 hours before delivers a noticeable glow and tightness on the day. Your skin type, goals, and budget shape the cadence — we recommend a plan during your consult.

Safety, risks & contraindications

For healthy adults with no contraindications, cryotherapy is considered safe when performed by a trained operator with monitored sessions and proper protective gear (dry skin, gloves, socks for whole-body, eye protection for facial). The most common side effects are mild and temporary: skin redness, tingling, temporary numbness. Serious risks (frostbite, cold panniculitis, hypoxia) are rare and almost always associated with unattended chambers, exceeding session length, or wet skin contact.

Cryotherapy is contraindicated for: pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension or severe cardiovascular disease, recent stroke or heart attack, Raynaud’s syndrome, cold agglutinin disease, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, severe peripheral vascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, open wounds in the treatment area, severe anemia, and uncontrolled seizure disorders. Always disclose your full medical history before booking.

No. Cryotherapy is contraindicated during pregnancy. The vascular and hormonal effects of cold exposure on a pregnancy are not well studied and the standard medical recommendation is to wait until after delivery and the postpartum recovery period. Consult your OB before resuming.

About Cryo Sanctuary (Renton, WA)

Cryo Sanctuary is at 1322 Lake Washington Blvd N, Suite 1, Renton, WA 98056 — a few minutes from downtown Renton, easy access from Kennydale, Newcastle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Kent, Tukwila, and South Seattle. We’re inside the Lake Washington Blvd plaza with free parking on-site.

We are open Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Weekends are by special booking only — text or call us if you need a Saturday or Sunday slot. Last appointment of the day is typically 6:15 PM to allow time for the full session. Book online at any time.

Three ways to book: (1) online via the booking page — fastest and 24/7; (2) call or text (425) 629-8592; (3) email shelley@cryosanctuary.com. New clients should book the Slim. Sculpt. Glow. intro to try all three signature treatments at the introductory rate.

The Slim. Sculpt. Glow. intro is $199 and includes one targeted cryoslimming session, one EMS body sculpting session, and one cryofacial — a $700+ value. It’s the easiest way for new clients to experience all three signature services and find which is the right fit before committing to a full package.

  • Cryo slimming single session — $299
  • EMS body sculpting single session — $299
  • Cryofacial single session — $125
  • Slim. Sculpt. Glow. new-client intro — $199 (over $700 in value)
  • Multi-session and combo packages with per-session savings — see the Packages page

Ready to book?

 

Book your $199 Slim. Sculpt. Glow. intro online

 

(425) 629-8592

 

shelley@cryosanctuary.com

📍 Cryo Sanctuary · 1322 Lake Washington Blvd N, Suite 1, Renton, WA 98056 · Mon–Fri 11–7 (weekends by request)

About the author

Shelley Stroeve is the founder of Cryo Sanctuary in Renton, WA, a Certified SubZero Cryotherapy Operator, and a Naturopathic Medicine student at the Alternative Medicine College of Canada. She personally performs and supervises every session at the studio. Read more on the About page →

Sources & further reading