The Feb. 3, 2010, issue of the New York Times ran a long article on new non-invasive techniques for reducing unwanted fat on the abdomen and thighs.

The two techniques featured were Zeltiq and Zerona. As the Times article noted, the Zeltiq device “uses controlled cooling to target and eliminate fat cells, a process called selective cyrolipolysis. Skin isn’t damaged, but subcutaneous fat, which is more sensitive to targeted cold, begins a two-month death march soon after exposure to Zeltiq.”

Zerona, on the other hand, is a low-level laser that causes (in the words of an expert quoted by the Times) “fat to seep out of a cell, almost like a balloon being struck by a needle.” The fat is then absorbed into the body’s lymphatic system and, eventually, used up as energy.

The article noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved either of these devices yet for fat reduction, although it has approved both for other medical purposes. At this point, any use of Zeltiq or Zerona for body contouring is strictly off-label.

The article also stressed how important patient selection is for these techniques to be effective. People who are obese or who have had surgery in the body area being treated are not good candidates for Zerona, one expert told the Times.

The article also stressed how important patient selection is for these techniques to be effective. People who are obese or who have had surgery in the body area being treated are not good candidates for Zerona, one expert told the Times.

Body-contouring.com was mentioned in the article as the online site where “more than five dozen ‘Zeltiq specialists’ can be found by ZIP code.”

SOURCE: Saint Louis, Catherine. “Zap or Chill? Targeting Fat Without Surgery.” New York Times. Feb. 3, 2010.