The Efficacy and Safety of Cryolipolysis for Subcutaneous Fat Reduction

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Excess subcutaneous fat causes not only cosmetic issues but also substantial systemic health problems. Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive method for substantially reducing subcutaneous fat cells with controlled, localized cooling. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a cryolipolysis device for body contouring. METHODS: A total of 41 patients underwent noninvasive cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting; ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Pleasanton, CA, USA) from May 2014 to December 2015. The degree of improvement was determined from medical records of patients, including body weight, circumference measurements, and adverse effects. Patient satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire. RESULTS: The treated regions were the lower abdomen in 26 cases, lower flank in 18, arm in 17, inner thigh in 10, banana line in 9, upper abdomen in 7, lateral thigh in 4, upper back in 2, axilla in 1, lower back in 1, upper flank in 1, and anterior thigh in 1. Circumferential measurements indicated a mean reduction of 0.69 cm. No significant adverse effect, such as scarring, infection, or burn, was observed. The average satisfaction score was 1.88 of 3. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive selective cryolipolysis is an effective and safe treatment modality for reducing excess fat cells.