Does Cryolipolysis Lead to Skin Tightening? A First Report of Cryodermadstringo

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Skin laxity occurs over time as collagen and elastin fibers break down. The breakdown is exacerbated by environmental factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and stress. The rate of collagen and elastin degradation accelerates with time, while the rate of new collagen and elastin formation slows. For facial and neck laxity, several treatment methods exist, such as surgical lifts, minimally-invasive filler injections, and nonsurgical devices employing radiofrequency, laser, infrared, and ultrasound energy.^1,,-4 To treat skin laxity on the body, the same treatment methods are available, although they are not as commonly used.

Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting System; Zeltiq Aesthetics, Pleasanton, CA) is a noninvasive method for selective fat reduction on the body. This nonsurgical procedure uses controlled cooling to reduce subcutaneous fat without inducing damage to surrounding tissues. Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for fat reduction in 2010, cryolipolysis is an established procedure to safely and effectively reduce fat.

A retrospective study on cryolipolysis discussed its clinical safety and efficacy, as well as its potential for business growth, in a plastic surgery practice.⁵ As shown in the aforementioned article, significant fat reduction can be achieved nonsurgically by cryolipolysis. Patients in flank and buttocks examples in the article also showed evidence of significant skin tightening.⁵ While cryolipolysis is well established as a nonsurgical method for fat reduction, it has not been documented as a skin-tightening procedure until now.