Table 1.
Compilation of Studies on Cryolipolysis (US = Ultrasonography)
| Researcher, Year or publication | Design | Participants | Anatomical location | Average age (year) | Average BMI | Methods | Follow Up | Outcomes | Side effects | Level of Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, 200925 | Prospective | 32 | Hip rolls/flanks | N/A | N/A | Manufacture preset CIF | 4 months | Average reduction by US 22.4% at 4 months; fat layer reduction in 100% subjects | N/A | 3 |
| Coleman, 200926 | Prospective | 9 | Hip rolls/flanks | N/A | N/A | CIF 33, 60 min versus CIF 37, 45 min | 6 months | Average reduction by US 20.4% at 2 months, 25.5% by 6 months; nerve biopsy shows no long-term change in nerve structure | - | 3 |
| Riopelle, 200939 | Prospective | 10 | - | N/A | N/A | N/A | 12 weeks | No change in lipids or liver function test at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment in patients with a loss of fat evident via US | N/A | 3 |
| Ferraro, 201229 | Prospective | 50 | Abdomen, inner thigh, arm, buttock, ankle | 41.46 | 25.35 | 0-5°C + acoustic probe, variable time of treatment, an average of 3.73 treatments | 8 weeks | Median reduction in fat circumference 6.86 cm for abdomen, 5.78 cm for thighs, 2.75 cm for arms, 5 cm for buttocks, 2.25 cm for ankles (p < 0.0001); average reduction by caliper measurement 4.5 cm for abdomen, 3.60 cm for thighs, 2.10 cm for arms, 4 cm for buttocks, 1 cm for ankles; cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, AST/ALT, total bilirubin, and albumin remained within normal limits | N/A | 3 |
| Pinto, 201240 | Prospective | 16 | Pertrochanteric | N/A | N/A | 3.1°C; 25-35 min; 1 or 2 treaments | 40 days | Average reduction by caliper measurement 19.7% in patients receiving 1 treatment, 28.5% in patients receiving 2 treatments (p = 0.046) | N/A | 3 |
| Shek, 201220 | Prospective | 21 (Chinese) | Abdomen | 46 | 23.96 | CIF 41.6, 60 min, 1 treatment | 2 months | Average reduction by caliper measurement 14.7% (p < 0.0001) | Erythema, hematoma, numbness | 3 |
| Retrospective | 12 (Chinese) | Abdomen | 47 | 22.5 | CIF 41.6, 60 min, 2 treatments | 2 months | Average reduction by caliper measurement after first treatment: 14% (p < 0.001) in abdomen, 13.4% (p = 0.003) in love handle; after second treatment: 7.2%(p = 0.020) in abdomen, 4.3% (p = 0.084) in love handle | N/A | 3 | |
| Lee, 201321 | Prospective | 14 (Korean) | Inner thighs | 28.57 | 23.12 | CIF 42; 60 min versus radiofrequency | 12 weeks | At 12 weeks, fat-reducing efficacy in cryolipolysis-treated thigh -19.55% versus -28.20% in the radiofrequency-treated thigh (not statistically significant); no statistically significant difference in any measured blood lipid level or fasting blood glucose at weeks 1,4, or 12 | Pain; one person noticed blood-tinged stool | 3 |
| Dierickx, 201327 | Retrospective | 518 | Unspecified | 42.7 | N/A | N/A | 1 and 2 months | 94% of patients showed a reduction, with a 23% reduction compared with the control site at 3 months by caliper measurements | Erythema, hematoma, swelling, pain, Sensitivity | 4 |
| Stevens, 201337 | Retrospective | 528 | Abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, back | 46.6 | N/A | 60 mins | 2 or 3 months | Consistent growth in procedure volume, with treatment cycles increasing by 823% from 2010 to 2012 | Pain | 4 |
| Gabriyan, 201428 | Prospective | 11 | Hip rolls/flanks | 37.6 | 27.1 | CIF 41.6, 60 min | 2 mos | Average fat volume loss by 3 D imaging 56.2 cc in treated site (p < 0.0001), average reduction in caliper measurement 14.9% (p < 0.001) | Erythema, swelling, pain | 2 |
| Boey, 201435 | Prospective | 17 | Abdomen | N/A | N/A | CIF 42; 60 min + 2 min massage | 4 months | Average fat layer reduction by US 68% greater on massaged side at 2 mos (p = 0.0007), 44% greater at 4 mos (p = 0.1) | Mild numbness in one subject | 3 |
| Sasaki, 201434 | Prospective | 112 | Abdomen, brassiere rolls, lumbar rolls, flanks, inner thighs, medial knee | 55,8 | 24,7 | CIF 42; 60 min + 5 min massage | 6 months | Average reduction by caliper measurement 21.5%, average reduction by US 19.6% in abdomen | Erythema, dysesthesia, Hypersensitive skin | 4 |
| Zelickson 201522 | Prospective | 45 | Inner thigh | 48,1 | 24,6 | CIF 41,6; 60 min + 2 min massage | 16 weeks | Fat layer reduction by US 2.8 mm; Average thigh circumference reduction 0.9 cm; Level of satisfaction 93 % | Erythema, mild edema, numbness | 4 |
| Munavalli, 201533 | Prospective | 21 males with gynecomastia | Breast | N/A | N/A | CIF 41.6, 60 min + 2 min massage | 2-4 months | Fat layer reduction by US 1.6 ± 1.2 mm | Pain, temporary paresthesia | 3 |
| Wanitphakdeedecha, 201522 | Prospective | 20 females (Thai) | Inner thigh, arm | 30.2 | 21.15 | CIF 41.6, 60 mins + 2 mins massage | 6 months | Circumference reduction on treatment area 0.41 cm (3 months) and 0.72 cm (6 months) | Pain, erythema, dysesthesia, purpura | 3 |
| Klein, 201746 | Prospective | 35 | Abdomen, flank | 45.2 | 24.7 | CIF 42, 30 min | 12 weeks | No meaningful changes in mean values were observed for any blood lipid level or liver test at any point during the 12-week follow-up period | Pain | 4 |
| Bernstein, 201732 | Prospective | 14 | Submental region | 50.5 | 33.1 | -11°C, 45 min; 1-2 treatments | 12 weeks | Reduction by caliper measurement 2.3 ± 0.8 mm, fat volume reduction 4.82 cm3, level of satisfaction 93% | Erythema, edema, numbness, tingling, pain | 3 |
| Carruthers, 201731 | Prospective | 30 females (1 Asian, 24 Caucasian, 5 others) | Arm | 45.7 | 28.2 | -11°C; 35 mins | 12 weeks | Fat layer reduction by US 3.2 mm ± 2.7 mm | Erythema, oedema, numbness, and tingling | 3 |
| Suh, 201823 | Prospective | 10 (Korean) | Submental area) | 46,6 | N/A | -11°C; 45 mins | 8 weeks | Average reduction by caliper measurement 4 mm (23.2%) and fat layer by US 2.8 mm (35.2%) | Erythema, mild edema | 3 |