Enhanced clinical outcome with manual massage following cryolipolysis treatment: A 4-month study of safety and efficacy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cryolipolysis procedures have been shown to safely and effectively reduce the thickness of fat in a treated region. This study was conducted to determine whether the addition of post-treatment manual massage would improve efficacy while maintaining the safety profile of the original cryolipolysis treatment protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of an efficacy group (n = 10) and a safety group (n = 7). Study subjects were treated on each side of the lower abdomen with a Cooling Intensity Factor of 42 (−72.9 mW/cm(2)) for 60 minutes. One side of the abdomen was massaged post-treatment and the other side served as the control. Immediately post-treatment, the massage side was treated for 1 minute using a vigorous kneading motion followed by 1 minute of circular massage using the pads of the fingers. For the efficacy group, photos and ultrasound measurements were taken at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months post-treatment. For the safety group, histological analysis was completed at 0, 3, 8, 14, 30, 60, and 120 days post-treatment to examine the effects of massage on subcutaneous tissue over time. RESULTS: Post-treatment manual massage resulted in a consistent and discernible increase in efficacy over the non-massaged side. At 2 months post-treatment, mean fat layer reduction was 68% greater in the massage side than in the non-massage side as measured by ultrasound. By 4 months, mean fat layer reduction was 44% greater in the massage side. Histological results showed no evidence of necrosis or fibrosis resulting from the massage. CONCLUSION: Post-treatment manual massage is a safe and effective technique to enhance the clinical outcome from a cryolipolysis procedure. Lasers Surg. Med. 46:20–26, 2014. © 2013 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.