Cold & Hot Therapy

How Can Cold & Hot Therapy Benefit My Healing Journey?

As you come in here to cool off in the Cold & Hot Therapy floor of the Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Store, you will find a wide array of tried and tested cold and hot therapy compresses. Cold and hot therapy is needed to help reduce post-operative swelling and bruising. In everyday life, cold and hot therapy helps reduce swelling and bruising resulting from any type of injury. Many of the specialized products that are featured in the Store function as both cold and hot compresses at the same time and can thus be used to provide both cold and hot therapy to swollen and bruised areas of the breast. Cold therapy has been shown to be greatly effective in reducing swelling by slowing the flow of blood and other fluids to the injured area. A cold pack is also beneficial in relieving the sensations of pain and restoring strength and mobility more quickly so that patients can heal faster and feel better sooner. It is recommended to apply a cold compress on the skin constantly for 72 hours following the procedure. A specialized cold compress is more comfortable and easier to use than an ice pack, frozen peas, or other cold pack solution because the compress molds better the contours of the breast, does not leak and does not put any pressure on the skin because it is lighter than crushed ice. You may use the "20 minutes on, 40 minutes off" technique that consists of applying the cold compress for 20 minutes and leaving the skin alone for 40 minutes while you chill the cold pack again. Cold compresses are quickly chilled in the freezer (10-15 minutes depending on the product) or in the refrigerator.

Hot therapy delivered through a warm/hot compress helps break down and disintegrate bruising discolorations and provides moisture or dry heat to areas of discomfort. Hot therapy can also be soothing on sore tissues that have been tightened. You may use hot therapy on your bruises from days around days 2-3 post-op (upon your doctor's approval) provided your swelling is not too considerable. A compress is typically heated by boiling water, hot tap water or by heating in a microwave.

It is important to always place a paper towel, a cloth or gauze between the cold/hot compress and the skin to avoid burning or irritating your sensitive, healing skin. For more convenience, it is recommended to buy 2 compresses to be able to have one ready at all times while the other is being used.

Related Products

The related products below can help you further treat and reduce post-operative swelling: