Reducing Fat Under the Arms with Cryolipolysis

Why is fat removed for cosmetic purposes ?
-It is a method which can be tried to slightly enhance body shape locally (body contouring)
-It is NOT a method to lose weight

How is dermal fat removed ?
-Invasive methods are surgical, require anesthesia and consists essentially of liposuction (tumescent liposuction)
–Non-invasive methods include cryolipolysis. A newer method could verteporfin injection accompanied by Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) (Click HERE to read more)

What is cryolipolysis ?
-Cryolipolysis is a medical treatment used to destroy fat cells (fat freezing). Its principle relies on controlled cooling to near 4 Celsius for the non-invasive localized reduction of fat deposits in order to reshape body contours. The exposure to cooling is set so that it causes cell death of subcutaneous fat tissue without apparent damage to the overlying skin. The procedure is billed as a nonsurgical alternative to liposuction.
–Side effects are Transient: local redness, bruising and numbness (non permanent).
-A Treatment session consists of application of the device 45–60 minutes per site.

Cryolipolysis was evaluated as an off-label indication for fat reduction under the arms (It is FDA-approved for lipolysis in the flanks, abdomen and thighs)
-In this study from South Korea 7 subjects were included
-Cryolipolysis was done in one session on an upper arm. The contralateral arm served as a control. Results were evaluated 8 weeks after the treatment (Ultrasound, physician assessment, patient satisfaction)
–Results showed that the fat thickness reduction was of 15.3% or 2 mm. (This was measured on 12 sites and the difference between baseline and 8 weeks was statistically significant, p less than 0.0001)

Comments
The results are slight but the method is non invasive and suitable to eliminate fat. Expectations must be managed: -Indeed there will NOT be a drastic fat reduction such as in weight loss – the latter would result in sagging skin.
-It does not replace surgery (which also carries higher risks).

What are the problems of removing dermal fat ?
If the fat removal was very effective it would result in sagging skin but cryolipolysis has more discrete effects than liposuction so it is not a problem such as in weight loss.

Reference: Poser 3076 – HWA JR – Non-invasive cryolipolysis to reduce subcutaneous fat in the arms. AAD Annual Meeting 2016, Washington DC, USA (United States of America)