Cryolipolysis is a body contouring alternative that is currently demonstrating promising results in an ongoing clinical study. So far, patient evaluations have shown an average reduction of more than 22% in the layer of treated fatty tissue in the “love handle” area at the 4 month follow up point. As of September 2010, the FDA has approved the Zeltiq CoolSculpting device used in this study for fat reduction purposes.

Study Details

Two methods were used to ensure accurate pre and post procedure comparisons in the Zeltiq study. First, treatment was only performed on one side of each patient’s body. So, if a patient changed overall body weight in a way that reduced or increased the size of the love handles, the researchers could still measure the difference between the treated and untreated sides. Second, ultrasound imaging was used to document the thickness of the fat layer before and after treatment. These objective measurements help establish the credibility of the study results.

The researchers did find that some patients had little or no result from cryolipolysis. It was determined that most of these individuals did not fit the criteria for being good candidates for the procedure in the first place. The cooling technique for body contouring apparently works best for localized areas of fat on patients who are already near their ideal body weight. If fat distribution is more diffuse rather than being concentrated in a “bulge”, it is more difficult to treat effectively with cryotherapy.

Procedure Information

Dermatologists who have performed this procedures caution patients that it does not deliver results that are as immediate or as dramatic as tumescent liposuction. With cryotherapy, the fat is damaged by cooling in such a way that the cells eventually die. Then, they are broken down and reabsorbed by the body. This happens gradually and it takes some time to see visible results such as smoother body contours.

Fortunately, the technique is non-invasive. It doesn’t break the skin or involve mechanical removal of fat which makes it safer than traditional liposuction (according to currently available data about complications). The 1 hour procedure itself is described by most patients as painless. The only sensations are from the mechanism using vacuum pressure to adhere the cooling plates to the treatment area and initial coldness until the skin goes numb.

Bruising and redness have occasionally been reported after cryolipolysis treatment. Soreness may also occur that resolves after several days. The treated area may be numb for as long as two weeks. There is no post-procedure downtime and patient activities are not restricted. From current research, it appears that this treatment targets fat cells very precisely leaving surrounding tissue unharmed. Although sensation in the skin may be temporarily affected, there appears to be no nerve damage over the long term.