Is Any Damage Done to the Skin During the Fat Freezing Process?

Question

With the freezing technique, if the fat is frozen, what's happening to the skin? Isn't the skin frozen? Damaged? Why doesn't the skin die?

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting by Zeltiq uses a patented process called cryolipolysis(TM) to lower the temperature of fat cells sufficiently to freeze them, triggering apoptosis (cell death). However, the temperature is not sufficiently low to freeze water, skin, or other tissue. The skin may be numbed from the cooling process and will probably redden slightly for a short time, but the effect is not permanent. There is a gel pad placed between the skin and the application to further protect the skin. In some delicate areas, an anti-freeze wipe is also rubbed on the skin.  Don’t worry, you won’t get frostbite from CoolSculpting! Any side effects, such as redness, soreness, bruising, or tingling, usually resolve within hours to days. Please see a board-certified dermatologist to find out how CoolSculpting can help you.

Sheila S. Nazarian, MD · Answer

Coolsculpting is an excellent form of non-invasive  fat reduction for
the right patient. Some applicators take 1 or 2 hours but the new advantage
applicators take only 35 minutes and have significantly less risk for delayed
onset pain (especially in the abdomen). Results are seen at 2 months and
typically 1-3 treatments will be necessary on each area to achieve ideal
results. The number of treatments depends on the amount of fat there and the
patient's goals.  There is not downtime and the results can be impressive
in the right patient.  We also use the Zimmer Z-wave for improved patient
comfort and added results. The best candidates are those who are in pretty
good shape with areas of stubborn fat that won't go away no matter what. The skin is well protected during the treatment.

My best,

Sheila Nazarian, MD, MMM

Beverly Hills, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Joe Gryskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

Your skin stays protected by a gel pad that is placed between your skin and the machine. The temperature that the machine cools down to only affects the fat cells, which in turn keeps the skin from getting frost bite.

	                                                                                                   All the best "Dr. Joe" Gryskiewicz

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

The scientists of Zeltiq worked out the temperature sensitivities and determined at what temperature the fat cells would perish before the epdiermal cells. It is a selective process and the skin is preserved.

Laurie A. Casas, MD, FACS · Answer

The coolsculpting device requires that gel pads are placed on the skin to protect it during the procedure. The skin does not freeze because it is protected.

Melissa Chiang, MD, FAAD · Answer

Coolsculpting does not damage the skin because skin freezes at a lower temperature than fat. After the procedure, the skin is cold and red, but within minutes, it quickly warms to room temperature. Meanwhile, the underlying fat cells commit "suicide," leaving the patient with a more desirable contour after a couple of months.

Jason D. Bloom, MD, FACS · Answer

During the Zeltiq CoolSculpting process, a soft gel pad is first place on the skin to protect it from the cooling process. Additionally, the fat cells are "frozen" or crystallize at the higher temperature than the skin. Bringing the temperature to a lower temperature than it takes to freeze the fat, but above the temperature that the skin freezes is the basis to the technology.

William Kwan, MD, FAAD · Answer

The key to CoolSculpting is that fat freezes at a higher temperature than water. Because the skin has a high percentage of water, it doesn’t freeze as readily as the fat does. When the CoolSculpting applicator is placed on the area, the underlying fat freezes but the skin is just cold, not frozen. This is why this procedure is so successful. No other tissues are damaged, just the fat cells.

Grace Liu, MD · Answer

Hi,

	Zeltiq, the manufacturers of Coolsculpting designed a feedback from the measurement of the skin temperature back to the machine.  This is a safety feedback so the machine will not run if the skin temperature appears to be dropping too low.  This is to avoid any cold burn of the skin.  An error message will show up on the machine and the machine will stop.  So no, because the machine is intelligently designed, there is no damage to the skin!

	Best,

	Dr. Liu

Daniel Shapiro, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting doesn’t burn, shatter or extract any cells. Developed by Harvard scientists, the procedure uses a targeted cooling process that kills the fat cells underneath the skin, literally freezing them to the point of elimination. Only fat cells are frozen. Your healthy skin cells will remain unharmed.

Is Any Damage Done to the Skin During the Fat Freezing Process?

Answers (16)

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