Cryolipolysis is a trademark owned by Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.. According to the trademark registration file, it refers to a medical device used to destroy fat cells. Its principle relies on controlled cooling for non-invasive local reduction of fat deposits to reshape body contours.The exposure to cooling is set so that it causes cell death of subcutaneous fat tissue without apparent damage to the overlying skin. The procedure is billed as a nonsurgical alternative to liposuction.

Method of action and animal studies

Lipolysis procedures attempt to "dissolve" fat cells by nonsurgical means. A number of methods have been attempted, including the use of laser, ultrasound, and rf current.^[2]popsicle panniculitis is a dermatologic condition that shows that exposure to low temperatures can selectively damage subcutaneous fat while leaving skin intact.^[3] Based on this premise, fat cells are more easily damaged by cooling than skin cells, cryolipolysis was developed applying low temperatures to tissue via thermal conduction. In order to avoid frostbite, a specific temperature level and exposure is determined. Drs. Dieter Manstein and R. Rox Anderson at The Wellman Center at Massachusetts General Hospital originated the concept, explored it in a number of experiments on pigs and reported their data in 2008. While the process is not fully understood, it appear that fatty tissue that is cooled below body temperature but above freezing undergoes localized cell death followed by a local inflammatory response, a local panniculitis,^[2]^[5] that gradually over the course of several months results in a reduction of the fatty tissue layer.

Experience in humans

The first human study appeared in 2009 when Coleman et al.love handles The lipolytic effect of treatment takes place within about two to four months It appears primarily applicable for limited discrete fat bulges With the small number of patients treated clinical data remain scarce, thus it is not known how long the treatment effect will last, or when and if later treatments would be necessary to maintain the result. reported results after cryolipolysis had been applied to in a single session to ten patients, each patient being their own control. A session takes less than an hour and does not require anesthesia. With a single treatment subjects had a 20 % reduction after two months and 25 % reduction at six months in the fat layer as assessed by ultrasound.

Side effects

Side effect data are based on a limited experience. Transient local redness, bruising and numbness of the skin are common side effects of the treatment and expected to subside. Typically sensory deficits will subside within a month. The effect on peripheral nerves was investigated and failed to show permanent detrimental results.No serious long-lasting side effects were encountered during follow-up time of 6 months.Scarring, ulcerations, or changes in blood lipids or liver functions have not been reported

Cryolipolysis™ is the non-invasive cooling of adipose tissue to induce lipolysis – the breaking down of fat cells – to reduce body fat without damage to other tissues. The scientific principles of Cryolipolysis were discovered by dermatologists Dieter Manstein, MD, and R. Rox Anderson, MD, of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

The physicians and their team conducted research which demonstrated that under carefully controlled conditions, subcutaneous fat cells are naturally more vulnerable to the effects of cold than other surrounding tissue. Their initial work, published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in November 2008, showed that:

Exposure to cooling via energy extraction causes fat cell apoptosis – a natural, controlled cell death which leads to the release of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators that gradually eliminate the affected cells.
Inflammatory cells gradually digest the affected fat cells in the months after the procedure, reducing the thickness of the fat layer.
Lipids from the fat cells are slowly released and transported by the lymphatic system to be processed and eliminated, much like that of fat from food.

Based on their research findings, the investigators concluded that "prolonged, controlled local tissue cooling can induce selective fat cell reduction and subsequent loss of subcutaneous fat, without damaging the overlying skin." This discovery, called "selective Cryolipolysis," led to the development of the patented technology behind the non-invasive CoolSculpting™ procedure.

Why the CoolSculpting Procedure Is Different

The CoolSculpting procedure using Cryolipolysis is fundamentally different from other non- or minimally-invasive modalities. Other methods of fat removal primarily involve necrotic cell death by damaging fat with heat, high-intensity focused ultrasound, or chemical injections. Each approach poses potential technical challenges, particularly with respect to targeting the right tissue depth and unintended damage to other structures close to or within the fat layer. Predictability of efficacy using these other techniques is also uncertain. In contrast, the CoolSculpting procedure using Cryolipolysis induces apoptosis only in fat cells to gently and gradually reduce the fat layer while preserving all other tissue.

How It Works

The cells in our body react to heat or cold at different temperatures levels. The research performed by Zeltiq has helped us better understand what these levels are so we can achieve body contouring through fat reduction. It works by pressing the device against the area to be treated and then becoming cold enough to target only the fat cells in that area. The body reacts with an inflammatory response which causes the body to naturally dispose of the damaged fat cells. By doing so we see a significant improvement in the shape of the body. The Zeltiq Coolsculpting procedure is performed in a doctor’s office, typically under the supervision of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. There is no anesthesia needed or recovery time. During the procedure, tissue is drawn into a cup with mild vacuum pressure. Patients may also be slightly uncomfortable with the contact of the cold as the procedure begins, which usually goes away after the first 10 minutes or so. If you feel too uncomfortable with the cold, let your doctor know. After the treatment is completed, patients may immediately return to their normal activities including work and exercise.

Possible Side Effects

Side effects are usually mild and related to the cold of the device which subside within 10 minutes. Skin may be red for several minutes to several hours, if this persists for more than that you should contact your doctor. Other side effects may include temporary bruising, tingling, tenderness, temporary dulling of sensation or cramping.

Is the Cryolipolysis procedure right for me?

Getting this procedure done all depends on your body type, and what looks you’re desiring. Ideal candidates for Cryolipolysis are relatively fit and want to target stubborn modest sized fat bulges. It is not intended for extreme weight loss or obesity. Cryolipolysis is commonly used to treat “muffin tops”, back fat, and “love handles”. The fat cells are frozen , but results will not be immediate. The earliest results will show within 6 weeks after the procedure and will follow out for several months until full corollary is shown. The images above are perfect candidates for Cryolipolysis. They do have somewhat of an amount of weight on them, but they aren’t considered morbidly obese. Also, the areas that are shown are targeted areas that the ZELTIQ is essentially used for.

What is the average cost of Cryolipolysis?

Never rely on internet sources for information on price ranging. Everyone is different. Your costs can be much lower based on where you want treatment and what different specialists recommend. It can range anywhere from 500$ to 4,5, or even six thousand. Depending on how much work you want done on your body and how many times you go in for a treatment. The amount all depends on what you desire, and what you specialists opinions are. The subtotal will be based on your specialist.

The Fat Freezing Procedure

There is a new kid on the block when it comes to effortless fat loss. It's called Cryolipolysis and is a fat freezing procedure that damages fat cells causing them to die and be eliminated from the body. We've all heard of burning our fat cells, but how about freezing them instead? The procedure is also referred to as cool sculpting and was discovered by two Harvard professors who stumbled across it by accident when they realized that babies given ice pops lost fat cells in their cheeks. They realized that the cold effect was responsible and started to research it.
The procedure has been available in the US and Europe since early 2010 and has recently also become available in Australia. The good news is that the machine has been approved by the F.D.A. but only as a means to anesthetize and cool the skin, not as a method to remove fat.
The Cryolipolysis fat freezing procedure is NOT an alternative to liposuction as it doesn't work for large amounts of fat. But it finally offers hope to people with small, unwanted fat deposits that are difficult to remove with diet and exercise who don't want to undergo liposuction treatment. The procedure is most popular among women seeking to get rid of their 'muffin top'... that bulge of skin just above the waist of their jeans.
The procedure isn't cheap, costing from $400 to $1000 for a one hour treatment. But compared to the cost of liposuction that is cheap. The beauty of the Cryolipolysis fat freezing procedure is that it is non invasive, there is no recovery period and no time off is required. There are no incisions made, the procedure is not painful and the only side effects are temporary redness and numbness afterward. Some patients experience a small amount of bruising caused by the suction of the machine.
The reason cool sculpting isn't suitable for large amounts of weight loss is because it only addresses subcutaneous fat, the fat stored directly beneath the skin. According to researchers the technique can result in a loss of up to 1.5 inches around the waist or whatever body part it is used on.
So how does cool sculpting work?
The Cryolipolysis machine is like a very strong vacuum containing a refrigeration unit. A gel patch is applied to the desired area followed by the machine which reduces the temperature of the fat in that area. This causes the fat cells to be damaged and slowly die. Dead fat cells are slowly flushed out by the body, never to return.

Precisely controlled cooling is applied through the skin to the fat layer
Cooling is usually maintained for 60 minutes to damage the fat cells and cause them to die
Dead fat cells are gradually flushed out of the body over several months
The gradual removal of fat cells causes a reduction of the fat layer

So if you want to get rid of those love handles or that muffin top, you might like to try cool sculpting. The Cryolipolysis Fat Freezing Procedure may be just what you need.

Julia Bell is a student of nutrition dedicated to helping people overcome obesity. Obesity is the number one health issue of the twenty first century. Learn how to live a healthier life by maintaining healthy weight and exercise habits through her weight loss blog.