Zeltiq Gets FDA Approval for Fat Reduction

Today, CoolSculpting by Zeltiq received FDA approval for non-invasive fat reduction. CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis technology to virtually freeze fat away.

According to the company, CoolSculpting by Zeltiq results in a 20% fat reduction in the treated areas on patients. Results can typically be first seen three weeks following the treatment with maximum results seen over the course of two to four months. The treatment usually takes 1-2 hours and can be repeated over time for more pronounced results.

Prior to the approval of CoolSculpting, there had been a gap in the body sculpting market for a non-invasive fat reduction method that involves no needles and no downtime. By targeting the underlying fat, CoolSculpting leaves the skin tissue intact and unaffected.

The Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey and the Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center in Boca Raton, FL, are home to CoolSculpting by Zeltiq. For more information, feel free to contact our offices with any questions or concerns you may have about CoolSculpting by Zeltiq.


Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Body Contouring Market Trends 2009-2013

With rising rates of obesity, particularly in the U.S., North America will see a surge of interest in the body contouring market over the next few years. As the demand for body contouring devices increases, more plastic surgeons will adopt these technologies into their offices.

BusinessWire.com predicted the upcoming trends in the body contouring market from 2009 until 2013. With new and existing companies delving into new innovations, such as laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) and cryolipolysis, there will be a higher frequency of body contouring devices available to consumers.

The recession will, however, have a slight impact on the body contouring market growth. With a reduction in disposable incomes, patients will forego or postpone these elective procedures as a way to conserve cash. This will cause many surgeons to have a limited amount of revenue to invest these new devices that can cost upwards of $100,000.

While there was a decline in device sales from 2008 to 2009, Millennium Research Group assumes there will be an economic revival recorded for early 2010.

Cynosure launched SmartLipo MPX in the U.S. and Canada during the second quarter of 2008. SmartLipo MPX was the first dual-wavelength LAL device available in the market. Another big launch in the end of 2009 was CoolTouch’s CoolLipo, Palomar Medical Technologies' SlimLipo, Syneron's LipoLite, Elem Medical’s SmoothLipo and Sciton's ProLipo PLUS.

In addition, UltraShape’s Contour 1 was the first transdermal ultrasound device available in Canada. In 2009, Medicis received Health Canada approval for LipoSonix, which has had difficulty getting FDA approval. When transdermal ultrasound devices become available in the U.S., perhaps they will grab a hold of the body contouring market. Zeltiq cryolipolysis device has been available for off label fat removal since last summer. In many practices (including ours) it has taken off and provides consistent, safe non-surgical fat removal.


Furthermore, growing obesity rates and the more desirable results from body contouring devices suggest that there will be considerable market growth over the next few years.

Hawaii Dermatology Seminar #2

The recently-ended 34^th annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar has lived up its reputation of being the original and, perhaps, the most well organized of all the Hawaii dermatology meetings. The first 4 days of the meeting were dedicated to medical and pediatric dermatology. The last 2 days were dedicated to advances in cosmetic dermatology. Some of the most well know leaders in the field lectured. These included Drs. Suzanne Kilmer from Sacramento, Michael Gold from Nashville, Roberta Sengelman from Santa Barbara, Thomas Rohrer from Boston and Christopher Zachary from Irvine, CA.

Among the more interesting discussions was a talk about Zeltiq cryolipolysis of women’s fatty upper arms, the soon-to-be-released Belotero wrinkle filler and the role of Matrix fractional radiofrequency treatment. Also discussed were more controversial issues such as Zerona low level light treatment’s effect on dissolving fat. Attendance was up at this year’s Hawaii Dermatology Seminar. Dermatology, and specifically Cosmetic Dermatology, is alive and well.

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Zeltiq on In Your Face Blog

One technology that we're extremely excited about here at Sanctuary is Zeltiq. Stemming from research in the 1970s about how the cold from popsicles created fat depressions in the cheeks of children, this non-invasive procedure has really been fascinating to research and use (including on myself!)

Check back soon for "after" pictures from our first round of patients in September.

One thing to remember is that in our experience, this procedure really takes 90 days to see the full results, not 2-6 weeks.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Study: 62% of plastic surgeons are also patients

An interesting but not surprising study was highlighted by Baltimore Sun health blogger Kelly Brewington.

"In a survey of 276 members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 62 percent said they had gone under the knife for at least one procedure. Most receive minimally invasive procedures such as laser hair removal chemical peels and Botox -- no word of whether they throw Botox parties. A third had gone under a surgical procedure, with liposuction being the most common."

I wasn't polled by the ASPS for this study, but I would've bumped the numbers up a bit. In the last couple of months I've tried both Ulthera and Zeltiq. Can't wait to show off the final results at the end of December, as both treatments take about 3 months to fully take effect.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Zeltiq Treatment Diary

We finally received our Zeltiq device and had it installed last week. This has been previously covered on our blog, and Dr. Goldberg was one of the original investigators in their FDA trial.

Basically, the device cools fat and causes fat cell death without skin, muscle or nerve injury. The best areas to treat are the lower abdomen, love handles and back. Of course I tried the device! Ulthera last week, Zeltiq this week. Here's what happened:

Dr. Wagner marked the area on my lower abdomen to be treated.

We then applied the contact sheet on my lower abdomen and fired up the Zeltiq device. While standing the suction applicator was placed on the left side of my lower abdomen and the whole area was sucked into the area between the chilling plates. It didn't hurt - I just felt the suction.

Then I reclined in the exam chair with a pillow behind my back and one on my legs. Dr. Wagner turned on the cycle and the machine began cooling my fat.

Felt a little strange but minimal discomfort... I'd rate it 1-2 out of 10. After 5 minutes, as the fat cooled, I felt nothing. The cycle lasted one hour with a little massage segment built in at the 30 minute mark. I spent the time on the phone and on my laptop cleaning up the 150 emails from the weekend.

After one hour they removed the device. The skin on my lower abdomen was a bit puffy as it was sucked into the device for an hour, and my skin was cold! I went to get some lunch and then repeated on the right side of my lower abdomen, for two cycles. I spent another two hours working, then hit the gym.

By the time I got to the gym the area was normal temperature, a little numb and a little swollen, so I did back and cardio just like any other day. No additional discomfort by having my lower abdomen treated.

My take? It's easy! I could do this every week... the only problem is you have to wait 90 days for the result.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ