Medical Encyclopaedia › Cryolipolysis (short definition)
In brief: Cryolipolysis, colloquially known as fat freezing, is a procedure in which localised fat deposits are deliberately cooled from the outside. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold than the surrounding skin and some of them die. The procedure can reduce smaller deposits somewhat but is not a weight-loss method and does not replace liposuction.
How does cryolipolysis work?
An applicator suctions the fat deposit or is placed flat on it and cools the tissue in a controlled manner over a set period. The cold triggers programmed cell death in some of the fat cells. The dead cells are broken down by scavenger cells of the immune system over the following weeks to months, and the fat is processed through metabolism. As the temperature is limited, the skin is usually not damaged. Cryolipolysis devices are medical devices; in the USA, the FDA has cleared various devices for specific body regions.
Who is it suitable for?
Cryolipolysis may be considered for people of roughly normal body weight with well-defined, palpable fat deposits, for example on the abdomen, flanks, thighs, double chin or back, that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is not the right treatment for overweight, lax skin, cellulite or lipoedema. It must not be used in cold-related diseases such as cryoglobulinaemia, cold agglutinin disease or cold urticaria, nor over abdominal wall hernias, scars, skin inflammation or during pregnancy.
Procedure and result
One session per area usually takes about 35 to 75 minutes. At first, intense cold and a pulling sensation are felt, which subside after a few minutes. After the applicator is removed, the tissue is often massaged. Visible changes appear after a few weeks at the earliest, the full result after about two to three months. Studies report a measurable but usually moderate reduction in the fat layer in the treated area; several sessions are often necessary. Body weight hardly changes. If weight remains stable, the destroyed cells are considered permanently removed; if weight is gained, remaining fat cells can grow again.
Side effects and risks
- redness, swelling, bruising and tenderness
- numbness, tingling or itching for weeks
- delayed-onset pain, especially on the abdomen, in the first weeks
- paradoxical adipose hyperplasia: a rare complication in which the treated fat deposit does not shrink after weeks to months but hardens and enlarges; it usually does not regress by itself and is generally treated surgically, for example by liposuction
- rarely, frostbite of the skin due to application errors
- unevenness or dents
Costs and important to know
Cryolipolysis is an aesthetic treatment paid for privately. Before treatment, the findings and alternatives should be assessed by a doctor, for example whether it is a simple fat deposit, a weakness of the abdominal wall or lipoedema. Questions about the device, the experience of the person carrying out the treatment, realistic results and the procedure in the event of complications are advisable, as is time to reflect. Depending on the situation, alternatives are a change in diet and exercise, liposuction, injections with deoxycholic acid for small facial deposits, or other energy-based procedures.
Related terms in the encyclopaedia
Liposuction, Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, Panniculitis, Cryoglobulins, Hernia, Cellulite, Obesity, Deoxycholic acid, HIFU
Sources
- Ingargiola MJ et al.: Cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: safety and efficacy of current treatment paradigms. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015
- Jalian HR et al.: Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia after cryolipolysis. JAMA Dermatol 2014
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 510(k)-Freigaben für Kryolipolyse-Geräte zur Fettreduktion
- Verordnung (EU) 2017/745 über Medizinprodukte (MDR)
Note: This article is for general information and does not replace advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, dentist or pharmacist. Last updated: October 2026.