CRYOPEN
PERMANENT REMOVAL OF MOLES, SKIN TAGS, LIVER SPOTS, AGE SPOTS, CHERRY ANGIOMAS, & MANY OTHER SKIN LESIONS
CRYOPEN - MEDICAL SKIN LESION REMOVAL
Fast, precise removal of skin tags, warts, verrucas, cherry angiomas, milia, age spots and other benign blemishes — using medical-grade cryotherapy delivered by an Independent Nurse Prescriber. Most lesions clear in a single session, with no surgery, no stitches and virtually no downtime. Just clear, smooth skin.
PLEASE NOTE: We use the medical-grade CryoPen — a regulated medical device that non-medical practitioners are not legally permitted to operate. Several versions of CryoPen exist on the market, and many salons use the lower-grade beauty device. Always check what you're being treated with.
10 min
From 80 British pounds
CRYOPEN— WHY CHOOSE SEBASTIAN ROSE?
Fast, precise, medically-led removal of benign skin lesions — performed by NMC / GMC licensed medical professionals, not a beauty therapist.
CryoPen cryotherapy lets us remove common, harmless skin imperfections in seconds, with millimetre precision and minimal downtime. Skin tags, warts, verrucae, age spots and similar benign lesions can often be treated in a single quick appointment at our Charles Street clinic in the heart of Cardiff (note that some lesions require mutliple visits).
Because Sebastian Rose is a medically-led clinic, every CryoPen treatment is assessed, so your skin is evaluated with genuine clinical judgement before anything is treated.
WHAT IS CRYOPEN?
CryoPen is a handheld, pen-shaped cryotherapy device that delivers a fine, controlled jet of nitrous oxide (N₂O) to freeze and destroy unwanted benign skin lesions. It is a CE-marked medical device used by clinicians worldwide for precise, in-clinic lesion removal. Unlike older cryotherapy methods that use a cotton bud or a spray of liquid nitrogen across a wider area, CryoPen targets only the lesion itself — to within a millimetre — leaving the surrounding healthy skin untouched.
The science behind it is straightforward. CryoPen applies an ultra-cold jet of nitrous oxide at approximately −89°C directly onto the lesion. This rapidly freezes the fluid inside and between the cells, forming ice crystals that expand and rupture the cell membranes. The targeted tissue is destroyed at a cellular level, the body then clears it naturally, and fresh skin forms underneath.
Several things make this method both effective and well-tolerated. It doesn't need to be as cold as liquid nitrogen: liquid nitrogen works at around −196°C, but benign tissue is reliably destroyed from roughly −62°C, so nitrous oxide at −89°C is more than cold enough to do the job without the excessive overkill of liquid nitrogen — which in turn reduces the risk of damage to surrounding skin. It is also precise, because the fine applicator concentrates the freeze onto the lesion alone, which is why it can be used safely on delicate areas such as the face and close to (but not on) the eyes. And it is quick, with each lesion typically taking only a few seconds to a few minutes depending on size and type.
CryoPen is suitable for a range of benign, non-cancerous skin lesions.
These include skin tags, common warts and verrucae, solar lentigines (age spots, sun spots and liver spots), seborrhoeic keratoses, milia, cherry angiomas and molluscum contagiosum.
After treatment, the lesion freezes and turns white, then thaws and flushes red. Depending on the lesion, the area may blister and form a small scab over the following days. The scab usually lifts within one to two weeks, with most areas fully healed within two to six weeks.
Many lesions clear in a single session, though some — particularly larger or more stubborn ones — need a second. More rearely, some lesions may require mutliple treatments - we will advise you of this following clinical assessment, before any treatment is carried out.
OUR TREATMENT POLICY
We are a medically-led clinic, and CryoPen is a medical procedure. To keep every client safe, we apply the following non-negotiable standards. These are in your interest, and they are not flexible.
We do not treat anyone under the age of 18
CryoPen treatments at Sebastian Rose are for adults only. We will not treat under-18s under any circumstances.
Moles and possible solar (actinic) keratoses must be checked first
We will not treat any mole, or any lesion that could be a solar (actinic) keratosis, unless it has been assessed by a dermatologist, a recognised mole-checking service, or your GP within the last 3 months — and you can show us evidence of that assessment.
This is not bureaucracy. It is the single most important safety rule in this field. Some skin cancers — including melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma — can closely resemble harmless moles, age spots or scaly patches. Freezing a lesion destroys the tissue. If a lesion that looked benign was in fact malignant, freezing it would destroy the evidence needed to diagnose it and could delay the diagnosis and treatment of a skin cancer. That is a risk we will never take. A prior professional assessment confirms the lesion is benign and safe to freeze before we go anywhere near it.
If you don't yet have this assessment, we'll happily see you once it's in place. We can point you toward appropriate mole-checking services if you need them.
We reserve the right to refuse treatment
If, on the day, we are not completely satisfied that a lesion is benign and appropriate for CryoPen — whether because it looks atypical, has changed, doesn't have the required prior assessment, or simply doesn't sit right clinically — we will decline to treat it. We may instead recommend you have it reviewed by a dermatologist or GP first.
You may have travelled, and you may be disappointed.
We understand that. But our duty is to your safety, not to your convenience, and refusing to freeze an undiagnosed lesion is exactly the judgement you should expect from a clinician. We would always rather send you for a check that turns out to be reassuring than freeze something that should have been investigated.
CRYOPEN FAQ'S
Does CryoPen hurt?
Most people find it very tolerable. You'll feel a sharp, cold, stinging sensation during the few seconds of freezing, which settles quickly. No injections or anaesthetic are needed.
How many sessions will I need?
Many lesions clear in a single session. Larger or more stubborn lesions may need a second treatment, which we'll discuss with you at the time.
Is there any downtime?
Minimal. You can return to normal activities straight away. The treated area may redden, blister or form a small scab over the following days, which typically lifts within one to two weeks.
Will it scar?
CryoPen is designed to target the lesion precisely and minimise damage to surrounding skin, so the risk of scarring is low. As with any cryotherapy, a temporary change in skin colour (lighter or darker) can occur at the treated site, particularly in deeper skin tones, as the freezing temporarily affects pigment-producing cells. This usually settles as the skin heals.
Can you remove my mole?
Only if it has been assessed and confirmed as benign by a dermatologist, mole-checking service or GP within the last 3 months, and you can show us evidence. Please see our treatment policy above — this is a firm safety requirement, not a preference.
Why do I need a mole or lesion check before treatment?
Because some skin cancers can look like harmless moles or spots, and freezing a lesion destroys the tissue. A prior professional check confirms a lesion is safe to treat and ensures we never freeze away something that should have been diagnosed and investigated.
Is CryoPen suitable for all skin types? It can be used across skin types, but because freezing temporarily affects pigment cells, the risk of a lighter or darker mark afterwards is slightly higher in deeper skin tones. We'll assess your skin (including your Fitzpatrick skin type) at consultation and talk you through what to expect for your skin specifically.
Are the results permanent?
For most benign lesions, removal is permanent. Occasionally a lesion can recur if not all of the treated cells were destroyed, in which case a further session resolves it.
Can I have CryoPen if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Unfortunately, you cannot have this treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How do I book?
Every CryoPen treatment begins with an assessment to confirm your lesion is suitable. Book your consultation online and, if a mole or possible keratosis is involved, please arrange your dermatologist/GP/mole-check assessment beforehand and bring the evidence with you.
