Cryolipolysis, how does it work?

General information on fatty tissue

Located mainly under the skin in a layer called hypodermis, fatty tissue is made up of adipocyte cells.

These adipocytes have two main characteristics:

• These are cells unable to multiply, meaning that any destroyed cell is permanently destroyed;
• Those are storage cells, with a crushed nucleus and a fat-filled vacuole, which can enlarge up to 50 times its original size.

Action of cold on fatty tissues: principle of cryolipolysis

Precursors to CoolSculpting®, the work of Drs Rox Anderson and Dieter Manstein proved that intense and prolonged cold destroyed adipocytes in 3 stages.

In a first time, the fat contained in the vacuoles crystallizes or freezes under the effect of the cold. The action is all the stronger as the concentration of saturated fatty acids is high. The vacuolar volume tends to decrease, and the cell wall to invaginate. The cell then becomes more fragile and permeable.

This cellular injury triggers a programmed death mechanism, where the cell in some way prepares its destruction: this is theapoptosis.

This is an irreversible process, which takes place over a few weeks.

With cell destruction, the macrophages will activate a cleaning process (or “enzymatic lysis”): this is the resorption cellular and fatty, before elimination. This entire natural process takes place over 1 to 3 months.

What are the practical consequences?

There are four points to remember for a patient wanting body contouring using cryolipolysis:

• It is an irreversible process : once the cell is injured, its death is definitively programmed.
• It's a delayed process : resorption is complete several weeks after the session, visible results are therefore never immediate.
• It is a mild inflammatory process : the presence of macrophages can explain some discreet signs, such as a small induration of the treated area or a drop in sensitivity. They are transient and reversible.
• This is not a preventative procedure : you need a correct lifestyle to prevent the remaining adipocytes from also starting to grow

Who is coolsculpting® cryolipolysis for?

To obtain good results, cryolipolysis must respect certain criteria specific to the patient and the area to be treated.

Who can benefit from cryolipolysis?

Any patient with moderate and diffuse excess fat can benefit from this cold slimming, provided they are not too overweight: a patient suffering from obesity will not be able to use this process.

Cryolipolysis is contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women, in patients with cold agglutinin disease (Raynaud syndrome type), certain dermatitis, hernias or vascular disorders.

Can we do cryolipolysis if we have cholesterol?

The destruction of fat cells and the release of lipids sometimes worries patients with hypercholesterolemia. They are afraid of seeing their rate increase: there is no risk.

The reason is very simple: metabolism includes two major, totally opposed mechanisms, synthesis (or anabolism) and destruction (catabolism).

Macrophages have no synthetic capacity: they are cells specialized in catabolism, they cannot produce cholesterol. Fatty acids are completely destroyed and eliminated. The only cells that synthesize cholesterol are in the liver or intestines.

Which areas should be treated with Coolsculpting?

Can be treated with cold: diffuse fatty deposits on the double chin, arms, thorax, stomach, thighs (saddlebags), hips, buttocks, calves, knees, etc.

Why choose Coolsculpting® technology?

This device is approved by the American FDA and benefits from the European CE marking: this guarantees its effectiveness and safety.

It ensures effective cooling at -10°C, acting deeply by suctioning the tissues.

It is also a perfectly safe device, with sensors to interrupt it in the event of an abnormal reaction: the cold delivery method, and the protective gel, pose no risk to skin tissues.

By allowing a reduction in fatty tissue from 25 to 30%, cryolipolysis by CoolSculpting® makes it easy to regain a slimmed-down silhouette, without surgery or liposuction.