How much do you know about fat freezing?

The origin of freezing technology

Cryolipolysis, a term that directly translates to "cold (cryo)-induced fat (lipo) breakdown (lysis)", has an origin story that's as interesting as it is unexpected. It was partly inspired by observations of what happens when children eat popsicles. Seriously! The co - founders of this technique were fascinated by a phenomenon known as "cold - induced fat necrosis". This occurred when young kids accidentally left popsicles sitting on their cheeks for a few minutes. When skin samples were taken from such pediatric patients, there was inflammation in the fat but the skin above it remained normal. This suggested that fat might be more vulnerable to cold - related damage compared to other types of tissue.

Building on this idea, in 2007, a cooling device was tested on pigs to determine if fat cells could be selectively eliminated. The outcomes were both encouraging and in line with expectations. There was approximately a 1/2 - inch reduction in the fat layer of the pigs in the treated areas, and crucially, the overlying skin was unharmed. By 2010, the first cryolipolysis technology approved for use in humans, called CoolSculpting, received clearance for treating love handles. Soon after, it gained approval for use on other body parts, such as the thighs, abdomen (belly), bra - line fat, back, the underside of the buttocks, and the chin.