Cryolipolysis was granted permission in 2010 by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for use in cosmetic fat removal treatments.
Preceding the approval from the FDA, Harvard scientists came across the fat freezing phenomenon when they noticed dimples forming on children’s cheeks as they had frozen popsicles.
Further investigation revealed that the freezing temperature of the popsicles was killing off the fat cells in the children’s cheeks.
And though the fat cells were destroyed, the cold did no harm to the other tissues or outer skin of the cheek.