Everything You Need to Know About Fat Freezing
Key takeaways:
Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive procedure that uses cold temperature to destroy fat cells.
The FDA approved cryolipolysis as a cosmetic procedure in 2010.
Fat freezing is relatively safe, and the most common side effect is decreased sensation in the area treated.
The desire to reduce unwanted fat pockets has been around for a long time. Liposuction — surgical removal of fat — has been a popular treatment for decades. But it’s invasive and can be risky. That’s why noninvasive, low-risk options, such as “fat freezing” or cryolipolysis, have grown in popularity.
Fat freezing is not new — kids have been freezing their mouths with popsicles for years. That may sound silly, but researchers found that popsicles freeze fat and leave indents without damaging muscle. This led them to develop the cryolipolysis procedure.
This article will explain what fat freezing is, if it really works, and its risks.
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What is fat freezing (cryolipolysis)?
Cryolipolysis is a treatment that uses cold to get rid of unwanted fat. It first gained FDA approval in 2010 for the treatment of the flanks then in 2012 for the abdomen.
The treatment uses a specific temperature that destroys only fat cells, while normal skin and muscle cells are undamaged. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold temperature than other cells. After the treatment, the fat cells become inflamed over the course of a month, which leads the body to destroy them.
How does fat freezing work?
Fat freezing is usually performed by a physician or nurse in a medical provider’s office. During the treatment, they draw the area you want treated into a special applicator with suction. This applicator does not have needles or other sharp objects. The device applies cold temperature to the area for about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the part of the body.
The procedure doesn’t require incisions or needles. You won’t need numbing or pain medication before or after the procedure. During the treatment you can relax and enjoy a book or a phone conversation.
Common treatment areas include:
Belly fat
Love handles
Upper arms
Inner thighs
Hips
Chin
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While it’s common to see results after just one treatment, some people may prefer to have more than one treatment to reach their goal. There is data to suggest an additional treatment can provide greater results, but it may depend on the treated area.
Fat freezing side effects
Cryolipolysis is much safer than liposuction. It does not have risks of infection, hematomas, or risks related to general anesthesia and sedation that are true for liposuction. But it does have its own set of risks.
In a review of 1,445 people who received at least 1 treatment of cryolipolysis, there were 12 reported complications. That’s a rate of less than 1%. The most common side effect was decreased sensation lasting more than 4 weeks in the area treated. Decreased sensation is common after the procedure, but it usually goes away after a few weeks. The other rare side effects included pain, anxiety, and itch.
Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) is one potential side effect, which is rare but important to consider. In PAH, the cryolipolysis procedure increases the fat in the treated area instead of reducing fat. Experts are not sure why this happens. A recent review of 2,114 people who had over 8,600 sessions of cryolipolysis found that only 9 people (less than 0.5%) developed PAH. For those who do get PAH, liposuction can correct it.
How long do the results last?
It’s important to note that results can vary depending on which area of the body is treated. The average fat loss in studies (measured by ultrasound imaging) is around 10% to 25%. Most studies followed patients for 2 to 6 months.
The fat cells that cryolipolysis destroys are gone forever. It’s a permanent result and they cannot grow back. But the remaining fat cells (it’s not possible to eliminate them all) can get bigger over time if you gain weight. In other words, the targeted fat cells may be gone forever, but the ones you still have can expand.
Is fat freezing safe?
Overall, fat freezing is relatively safe compared with liposuction. It has a few serious risks, like PAH (described above).
Can you freeze fat at home?
Although some companies advertise “fat freezing” home devices, experts do not recommend trying this at home on your own. This is because trying to freeze your own fat with unauthorized devices can damage the skin. Cryolipolysis uses a proprietary temperature that only targets the fat. Home devices or self-made products are not so specific and can literally freeze the skin, causing it to necrose, or die. This can leave permanent damage and scars.
The bottom line
Cryolipolysis is a procedure that freezes fat cells without damaging other cells and tissues. The procedure permanently destroys fat cells, but a person may still gain weight and build more fat cells over time. Fat freezing is much safer than surgical fat removal, or liposuction. The most important risk with cryolipolysis is PAH, which is rare but can be disfiguring.
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References
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Liposuction.
Derrick, C. D., et al. (2015). The safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis: A systematic review of available literature. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Ingargiola, M. J., et al. (2015). Cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: Safety and efficacy of current treatment paradigms. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Jewell, M. L., et al. (2011). Noninvasive body sculpting technologies with an emphasis on high-intensity focused ultrasound. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Juhász, M. L. W., et al. (2018). Cold panniculitis after cryolipolysis treatment of the abdomen. Dermatologic Surgery.
Nikolis, A., et al. (2021). A multicenter evaluation of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia following cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: A review of 8,658 cycles in 2,114 patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Pinto, H. R., et al. (2012). A study to evaluate the action of lipocryolysis. Cryoletters.
Shek, S. Y., et al. (2012). Non-invasive cryolipolysis for body contouring in Chinese—a first commercial experience. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Stevens, W. G., et al. (2015). Cryolipolysis conformable-surface applicator for nonsurgical fat reduction in lateral thighs. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
