Post-Surgery Healing Technology Launches in the UK

Traditional Ice Packs Can Cause Nerve and Tissue Damage, Burden to Health Team

London - 22 June, 2009 – New therapy which accelerates post-surgery healing, reducing swelling by as much as 30%, is being introduced to Plastic, Cosmetic and Maxillofacial surgeons around the UK: Hilotherapy (www.hilotherapy.co.uk), a revolutionary German innovation which reduces pain and avoids the risk of nerve and tissue damage by using controlled cold temperatures, delivered via ergonomic cuffs.

The system’s efficacy was proven in an independent study presented at last year’s Congress of the European Association of Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery, where 42 patients who had undergone Bimaxillary Osteotomy (relocation of the upper and lower jaw) were randomly divided into two study groups. The first was treated post-operatively with traditional ice packs wrapped in regularly cooled towels, and the other with Hilotherapy. Swelling – measured in ml – was nearly a third less with Hilotherapy on every consecutive day tested.

According to Stuart Watkins, Hilotech’s Director;

“The trouble with traditional coolants such as ice compresses and gel pads is they stop the healing process and can seriously damage skin and tissue – even cause frostbite/paralysis. Unlike Hilotherapy, which is proven to improve the healing time and dramatically reduce swelling, pain and bruising.”

Hilotherapy can be used all over the body: anywhere where swelling, pain and haematoma are present or need to be prevented. The adaptable cuffs, already hailed as the ideal treatment for blepharoplasty, breast surgery and facelift patients, can be set at the exact required temperature, to the degree, anywhere between +10°C and +30°C.

Bryan Mayou, consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), has been trialling the treatment in his own practice at the Cadogan Clinic, a day surgery based in London’s Chelsea. He says;

“I was already familiar with this type of technology, which I had witnessed for myself visiting Germany a few years ago, so I’m delighted it’s finally made it to the UK. Discretion is paramount at our clinic and Hilotherapy is an ideal solution for our eyelid surgery and facelift patients - they can return to their normal activities much quicker, as bruising and swelling are reduced in record time.”

Traditional coolants are usually set at 0°C and have many disadvantages: such aggressive cold temperatures can seriously damage skin and tissue (frostbite/paralysis). When used in short-term application, these always lead to a reactive hyperaemia and as the temperature is not constant they have to be replaced regularly, resulting in an increased burden on the care team.

According to Stuart Watkins;

“Hilotherapy is set to revolutionise medicinal therapy and can be applicable to a number of fields – it is currently widely used in sports injury, plastic surgery, maxillofacial and orthopaedic surgery but can also work before and after lasers or anti-wrinkle treatments such as Botox, as well as after skin peeling.”