PracticalDermatology

In each issue, Practical Dermatology® asks top dermatologists about the latest devices they are using to treat patients. Here, Gary Goldenberg, MD, a medical and cosmetic dermatologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, talks about TargetCool, a device he’s been using since November 2022 to ease the pain associated with many cosmetic procedures.

TargetCool by CoolHealth recently launched three new interchangeable nozzles that cool, freeze, and boost, allowing users to switch between nozzles based on their patients’ needs to target a specific area of the skin.

What is the TargetCool, and how are you using it in practice?

Gary Goldenberg, MD: TargetCool is a first-of-its-kind medical cooling device that can alleviate pain and bruising from injection-based procedures such as hyperhidrosis, botulinum toxin, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections as well as fillers. I use it daily to make these procedures more comfortable for patients. With this device, compressed CO2 cryogen is modulated by digital controls, infrared sensors, and a calibrated nozzle to deliver precise, controlled, rapid cooling to the skin.

What sets TargetCool device apart from other pain/bruising prevention methods?

Dr. Goldenberg: TargetCool is different from other analgesia devices I have used in the past in several ways. The cooling is precise: you can pinpoint the exact location as opposed to cooling a broader area or having a more systemic effect. TargetCool also allows you to set the exact tissue temperature you’d like to achieve. This prevents any possibility of overcooling (which could cause a burn). It also ensures that the tissue is cool enough.

Do your patients like it?

Dr. Goldenberg: Patients respond very well to the device. It makes various cosmetic procedures less painful such as PRP injections, fillers, and even botulinum toxin. TargetCool also decreases bruising, inflammation, and swelling post-procedure.

Is there a learning curve for providers?

Dr. Goldenberg: The device itself is very easy to use with a “point and click” feel to it. TargetCool is easy to adopt in practice.