Repeat Treatment, Massage Improve Abdominal Cryolipolysis Results

KISSIMMEE, FLA. – Two new studies have found safe and effective means for improving the results of lower abdomen cryolipolysis.

In the first study, 20 patients underwent one lower abdomen cryolipolysis treatment for 60 minutes, followed by a second treatment 2 months later. A consistent and discernable decrease in the thickness of the fat layer was noted in an independent photo review 4 months following the initial treatment.

Blinded independent reviewers, including two plastic surgeons and one dermatologist, compared the follow-up photos with those taken at baseline, and correctly identified the posttreatment image 86% of the time, Dr. Flor Mayoral reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

"Massage appears to be a safe, effective way to further reduce the fat layer following a cryolipolysis procedure."

Patient satisfaction was also high, with 75% of study participants reporting a "somewhat to very visible" change in the treated region, said Dr. Mayoral, a dermatologist in private practice in Coral Gables, Fla.

"Patients didn’t have the advantage of looking at their own photographs to determine whether they looked better or not," she noted.

Study patients were treated using CoolSculpting, by Zeltiq Aesthetics, at a cooling intensity factor of 42. No adverse events were reported.

Additional treatment following initial cryolipolysis of the abdomen appeared to be safe and effective, Dr. Mayoral concluded.

In a separate single-center study, Dr. Gerald Boey, a dermatologist in private practice in Vancouver, B.C., found that performing manual massage to the abdominal area following cryolipolysis led to improved outcomes, compared with cryolipolysis without the manual massage.

Massage was performed on one randomly selected side of the abdomen immediately following treatment of the entire lower abdomen in 10 patients, and outcomes on each side were compared using photos taken at baseline and at the 2-month follow-up. Improvement occurred on both sides, but greater improvement was noted on the massaged side in all patients, and ultrasound measurement confirmed that the fat reduction on the massaged side was, on average, 68% greater than on the control side, Dr. Boey said.

In a separate set of seven patients, biopsies performed at baseline and at 3, 8, 13, 30, 60, and 120 days following massage demonstrated that massage was not associated with any evidence of necrosis or fibrosis.

As in Dr. Mayoral’s study, cryolipolysis in this study was performed using CoolSculpting at a cooling intensity factor of 42 for 60 minutes. Massage was performed for 1 minute using a vigorous kneading motion, followed by 1 minute using a circular motion with the pads of the fingers.

"Massage appears to be a safe, effective way to further reduce the fat layer following a cryolipolysis procedure," Dr. Boey said. As for why the massage helps, one possible explanation is that manipulation of the fat while it is in the crystalline state induced by cryolipolysis may cause an accelerated reperfusion injury.

Dr. Mayoral reported that her study was funded by Zeltiq Aesthetics. She had no other disclosures to report. Dr. Boey had no disclosures to report.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. – Two new studies have found safe and effective means for improving the results of lower abdomen cryolipolysis.

In the first study, 20 patients underwent one lower abdomen cryolipolysis treatment for 60 minutes, followed by a second treatment 2 months later. A consistent and discernable decrease in the thickness of the fat layer was noted in an independent photo review 4 months following the initial treatment.

Blinded independent reviewers, including two plastic surgeons and one dermatologist, compared the follow-up photos with those taken at baseline, and correctly identified the posttreatment image 86% of the time, Dr. Flor Mayoral reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

"Massage appears to be a safe, effective way to further reduce the fat layer following a cryolipolysis procedure."

Patient satisfaction was also high, with 75% of study participants reporting a "somewhat to very visible" change in the treated region, said Dr. Mayoral, a dermatologist in private practice in Coral Gables, Fla.

"Patients didn’t have the advantage of looking at their own photographs to determine whether they looked better or not," she noted.

Study patients were treated using CoolSculpting, by Zeltiq Aesthetics, at a cooling intensity factor of 42. No adverse events were reported.

Additional treatment following initial cryolipolysis of the abdomen appeared to be safe and effective, Dr. Mayoral concluded.

In a separate single-center study, Dr. Gerald Boey, a dermatologist in private practice in Vancouver, B.C., found that performing manual massage to the abdominal area following cryolipolysis led to improved outcomes, compared with cryolipolysis without the manual massage.

Massage was performed on one randomly selected side of the abdomen immediately following treatment of the entire lower abdomen in 10 patients, and outcomes on each side were compared using photos taken at baseline and at the 2-month follow-up. Improvement occurred on both sides, but greater improvement was noted on the massaged side in all patients, and ultrasound measurement confirmed that the fat reduction on the massaged side was, on average, 68% greater than on the control side, Dr. Boey said.

In a separate set of seven patients, biopsies performed at baseline and at 3, 8, 13, 30, 60, and 120 days following massage demonstrated that massage was not associated with any evidence of necrosis or fibrosis.

As in Dr. Mayoral’s study, cryolipolysis in this study was performed using CoolSculpting at a cooling intensity factor of 42 for 60 minutes. Massage was performed for 1 minute using a vigorous kneading motion, followed by 1 minute using a circular motion with the pads of the fingers.

"Massage appears to be a safe, effective way to further reduce the fat layer following a cryolipolysis procedure," Dr. Boey said. As for why the massage helps, one possible explanation is that manipulation of the fat while it is in the crystalline state induced by cryolipolysis may cause an accelerated reperfusion injury.

Dr. Mayoral reported that her study was funded by Zeltiq Aesthetics. She had no other disclosures to report. Dr. Boey had no disclosures to report.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. – Two new studies have found safe and effective means for improving the results of lower abdomen cryolipolysis.

In the first study, 20 patients underwent one lower abdomen cryolipolysis treatment for 60 minutes, followed by a second treatment 2 months later. A consistent and discernable decrease in the thickness of the fat layer was noted in an independent photo review 4 months following the initial treatment.

Blinded independent reviewers, including two plastic surgeons and one dermatologist, compared the follow-up photos with those taken at baseline, and correctly identified the posttreatment image 86% of the time, Dr. Flor Mayoral reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

"Massage appears to be a safe, effective way to further reduce the fat layer following a cryolipolysis procedure."

Patient satisfaction was also high, with 75% of study participants reporting a "somewhat to very visible" change in the treated region, said Dr. Mayoral, a dermatologist in private practice in Coral Gables, Fla.

"Patients didn’t have the advantage of looking at their own photographs to determine whether they looked better or not," she noted.

Study patients were treated using CoolSculpting, by Zeltiq Aesthetics, at a cooling intensity factor of 42. No adverse events were reported.

Additional treatment following initial cryolipolysis of the abdomen appeared to be safe and effective, Dr. Mayoral concluded.

In a separate single-center study, Dr. Gerald Boey, a dermatologist in private practice in Vancouver, B.C., found that performing manual massage to the abdominal area following cryolipolysis led to improved outcomes, compared with cryolipolysis without the manual massage.

Massage was performed on one randomly selected side of the abdomen immediately following treatment of the entire lower abdomen in 10 patients, and outcomes on each side were compared using photos taken at baseline and at the 2-month follow-up. Improvement occurred on both sides, but greater improvement was noted on the massaged side in all patients, and ultrasound measurement confirmed that the fat reduction on the massaged side was, on average, 68% greater than on the control side, Dr. Boey said.

In a separate set of seven patients, biopsies performed at baseline and at 3, 8, 13, 30, 60, and 120 days following massage demonstrated that massage was not associated with any evidence of necrosis or fibrosis.

As in Dr. Mayoral’s study, cryolipolysis in this study was performed using CoolSculpting at a cooling intensity factor of 42 for 60 minutes. Massage was performed for 1 minute using a vigorous kneading motion, followed by 1 minute using a circular motion with the pads of the fingers.

"Massage appears to be a safe, effective way to further reduce the fat layer following a cryolipolysis procedure," Dr. Boey said. As for why the massage helps, one possible explanation is that manipulation of the fat while it is in the crystalline state induced by cryolipolysis may cause an accelerated reperfusion injury.

Dr. Mayoral reported that her study was funded by Zeltiq Aesthetics. She had no other disclosures to report. Dr. Boey had no disclosures to report.