Cryolipolysis: Can CoolSculpting Freeze Away Your Muffin Top? by Dr. Sharon Orrange/Primary Care Physician: at DailyStrength Doctors and Advisors

Dr. Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…

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LOCATION: Santa Monica, CA, USA

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Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric, Hospital and General Internal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

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Cryolipolysis: Can CoolSculpting Freeze Away Your Muffin Top?

Posted in Plastic Surgery by Dr. Sharon Orrange on May 24, 2012

This is the real deal. The dermatology and plastic surgery literature has been a buzz the last year about using cryolipolysis to melt away abdominal fat.

Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive way to reduce subcutaneous fat without injury to other tissues. It is an FDA-approved procedure that causes fat cell death, reducing the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer. Studies have reported a 20% reduction in the fat layer with a single treatment. Cryolipolysis is most often used in the flank (low back-fat area) or abdomen (muffin top area.)

Does it really work? It really does. Several studies (real scientific studies published in the peer reviewed literature) have shown a significant reduction of subcutaneous fat through a controlled cold exposure with a single cryolipolysis procedure (CoolSculpting.) After 1 treatment with the CoolSculpting procedure, there is a reduction of the fat layer (even after 6 months) and more than 50% of the patients reported they were happy with the results of their treatment.

So what the heck is this? Cryolipolysis is a new technology that uses cold exposure, or energy extraction, to change an area of fat. Cryolipolysis is a new, noninvasive treatment option that may be of benefit in the treatment of excess fat and expect more studies to some.

In fact, a very recent study looked at massage immediately after CoolSculpting and found that results were improved with massage. In that study 75% of patients were happy with their noticeable results. The theory here is that massage helps because manipulation of the fat while it is in the crystalline state induced by cryolipolysis may help get rid of the fat.

Weird I know, but if it works it’s exciting.

- Dr. O

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