Cryolipolysis

Cryolipolysis can reduce certain localised fat deposits without surgery, anaesthesia or scarring. It is not a weight-loss method and does not replace a suitable diet or physical activity. The amount of fat reduced varies from person to person and from area to area. The limits: the treatment cannot guarantee a precise reduction, perfect symmetry, complete disappearance of a fat deposit or a final result. Skin quality and overall body shape may also limit the result. In some situations, liposuction or another technique may be more suitable.

Before a cryolipolysis session, Dr Manon Belhoste needs to know your medical history and treatments. Certain conditions linked to an abnormal sensitivity to cold, including some cryoglobulinaemias, cold urticaria or certain cold agglutinin diseases, may make the treatment unsuitable. A hernia located in or right next to the area to be treated must also be checked for. Any infection, inflammation or skin lesion on the area to be treated must be reported. Any sensitivity disorder, particular treatment or medical history must be shared during the consultation. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, aesthetic treatment is postponed as a precaution.

After a cryolipolysis session, no period of immobilisation is needed. Normal activities can generally be resumed straight away. The treated area may stay red, swollen, sensitive or numb for several days or weeks. Compressing or traumatising the area should be avoided if it remains painful or sensitive. Specific instructions are given according to the area treated and how recovery progresses.

The result of cryolipolysis is gradual. The fat cells destroyed by the cold are gradually eliminated by the body. An initial improvement may appear in the weeks following treatment, but the result is generally assessed after several weeks to a few months. An additional session may sometimes be suggested if the reduction achieved is insufficient.

During the session, a feeling of intense cold, pinching, pulling or pressure may be felt when the applicator is put in place. The area then gradually becomes numb as it cools. After the session, sensitivity, tugging, tingling or numbness may persist for several days or weeks.

Like any medical treatment, cryolipolysis can cause side effects. The most common are redness, swelling, sensitivity, bruising, tingling or a temporary reduction in sensitivity. Less often, prolonged pain or a lasting change in sensitivity may occur. A rare complication called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia may exceptionally appear: the treated area then increases in volume instead of decreasing. This complication requires a medical assessment and may lead to surgical treatment being proposed.

No. Cryolipolysis is intended to reduce localised fat deposits, not to cause overall weight loss. The number on the scales may stay the same despite a reduction in the volume of the treated area. The treatment is therefore mainly suited to people whose weight is relatively stable and who have localised fat accumulation.

The fat cells destroyed by cryolipolysis are eliminated and do not grow back. However, the remaining fat cells can increase in size if you gain weight. The result can therefore be maintained through a stable weight, but cryolipolysis does not protect against new fat gain.