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Zeltiq (pronounced “zel-TEEK”) is a new non-invasive cosmetic procedure that cools fat, causing the fat to die, be reabsorbed and eliminated by the body. While Zeltiq isn’t for all over weight loss, it can be used to zap specific problem areas. One woman who had the procedure in Nashville said she lost “about a stick of butter” on each side of her back.

The procedure isn’t only for stubborn back fat, but other problem areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise. It is important to know that while Zeltiq is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for skin cooling and anesthetic uses, it isn’t yet approved for fat removal, though scientific studies are underway for those purposes.

Zeltiq can be used to treat fat bulges on the abdomen, sides, or back and costs about $1,000 to have one area treated. While patients can go directly back to work after the procedure, the final result can take some three months to become evident. During the procedure, a flap of skin is pressed between two plates cold enough to injure the underlying fat, but not cold enough to damage the top layer of skin. Over the next several weeks the fat breaks down, dies, and is reabsorbed and eliminated by the body.

This process is officially called cryolipolysis, and it works because our body cells react to heat and cold differently. The Zeltiq research has helped scientist learn more about how the fat cells in the body react to cold and how that can be used to achieve body contouring. When the device cools the area to be treated, the body reacts with an inflammatory response, causing the body to naturally get rid of the damaged fat cells. Noticeable results can be achieved this way.

Usually the procedure is done in a doctor’s office, with a supervising dermatologist or plastic surgeon. No anesthesia is necessary, and there is no recovery time. The tissue is drawn into a cup with mild vacuum pressure and cooled. Any sensation of cold goes away after 10 minutes or so. After several days, the cooled fat cells undergo a process called apoptosis and start shrinking. They are slowly digested over several months and removed through the liver. Love handles, back fat, and the so-called “man boobs” are common targets. The results are real, but modest, and are not a substitute for healthy eating and exercising.

Any side effects with Zeltiq are related to the cold of the device and usually go away within 10 minutes. The skin may stay red for a while. If the skin stays red for longer than several hours, patients are advised to call their doctors and report it. There may also be some temporary bruising, tenderness, tingling, or temporary numbness.

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