Submental treatments and shorter, more comfortable treatments are trending in cryolipolysis, according to Girish (Gilly) Munavalli, M.D., M.H.S., medical director, Dermatology, Laser, and Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, in Charlotte, N.C.
“There’s a great deal of interest in reducing the double chin,” Dr. Munavalli told colleagues during the 36th Annual Conference of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS 2016), Boston, Mass. “CoolSculpting [Zeltiq] received FDA clearance for submental fat reduction in 2015 and introduced the CoolMini applicator for treating small fat bulges, such as the submental area. Some physicians are also using it to reduce axillary puffs and knee fat.”
Unlike Kybella [Allergan] treatment for submental fat, CoolMini doesn’t cause significant swelling and bruising, and patients can return to normal activities without downtime, says Dr. Munavalli, assistant professor of dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, and clinical assistant professor of medicine at University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, CoolMini may not require as many treatment visits, at a comparable, if not cheaper price point, he notes.1
Today’s cryolipolysis technology is also offering shorter treatments with improved comfort, according to Dr. Munavalli. He refers to a study also presented at ASLMS 2016, looking at the CoolAdvantage applicator [Zeltiq], which is being introduced with a new applicator design.2
“It has a cooled cup to maximize tissue contact for more efficient cooling and treats at a lower temperature, so the same efficacy is achieved in 35 rather than 60 minutes,” Dr. Munavalli says. “It also pulls the tissue more gently into the cup compared to the traditional parallel plate vacuum applicators, so there’s greater comfort during the procedure and much less bruising post-treatment.”
Disclosure: Dr. Munavalli has been a consultant for ZELTIQ, the manufacturers of the CoolSculpting System.
References
1. Kilmer SL, Burns AJ, Zelickson BD. Safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for noninvasive reduction of submental fat. Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Jan;48(1):3-13.
2. Kilmer SL. Prototype CoolCup applicator with over 40% reduced treatment time demonstrates equivalent safety and efficacy with greater patient preference. ASLMS Annual Conference, Boston, MA, April 2016.
