Cryolipolysis
Pronunciation: kry-oh-lih-POL-ih-sis
A non-invasive body-contouring procedure that selectively destroys subcutaneous fat cells through controlled, sustained cooling.
Full Definition
Cryolipolysis exploits the relative sensitivity of adipocytes to cold compared with surrounding tissues: targeted cooling causes apoptosis of fat cells without damaging the overlying skin. The dead cells are subsequently cleared by the body's inflammatory response over two to four months. In editorial copy, cryolipolysis is often rendered under brand names (e.g. CoolSculpting®); editors must distinguish the generic procedure name from the trade name and apply trademark symbols where appropriate. The term is sometimes misspelled 'cryo-lipolysis' — the unhyphenated form is standard in clinical literature.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate: 'cryolipolysis', not 'cryo-lipolysis'. When referencing branded devices, add the ® symbol on first use and distinguish the brand from the generic technique.
In Context
- "Cryolipolysis of the submental region was scheduled as an alternative to deoxycholic acid injections." — Treatment options document
- "The feature article referred to 'cryo-lipolysis' throughout; the hyphen was removed to match the standard unhyphenated clinical spelling." — Proofreading note