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CompletedNCT01209767Updated Dec 3, 2021Results posted

Cryolipolysis and Subcision for Treatment of Cellulite

An interventional study of cryolipolysis and Subcision in Cellulite, sponsored by Northwestern University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-12-03.

Sponsored by Northwestern University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
22
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study intended to investigate and compare the changes that may occur in response to cryolipolysis (localized cool exposure) and subcision (surgical technique) on cellulite. The cryolipolysis cooling device used is FDA approved for skin cooling, but still investigational in the treatment of cellulite. It has previously been used for fat reduction on love handles or back fat. During cryolipolysis, the system drew fat tissue into an applicator then exposes the extracted fat tissue to cold temperatures. The cold exposure caused fat cells to die, with the goal to decrease the raised areas of cellulite. Subcision is a process used to treat scars left behind by acne or other skin diseases and has been noted to improve moderate to severe cellulite. Subcision is a simple surgical procedure that is performed by inserting a specially designed needle under the skin after local numbing medication is injected. The needle is moved in a repetitive motion parallel to the skin to separate the surface tissue from the deeper scar tissue with the goal to improve the dimpling caused by these tissues sticking together. This study was a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of these procedures.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cellulite

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Keywords

  • Cellulite
  • Cryolipolysis
  • Zeltiq
  • Subcision
03

In context

Cellulite

71 studies on the registry are indexed under Cellulite; 3 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 22 is below the median of 34 across 65 interventional studies indexed under Cellulite.

Browse Cellulite studies →

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University is the lead sponsor of 1,423 studies on the registry; 198 are open to participants now.

Of its 105 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 78 (74%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy female patients 18-60 years of age with more than one evident depressed lesion of cellulite on the upper thighs and/or buttocks.
  • All subjects must have the affected areas that show the mattress phenomenon spontaneously when standing or while both lying and standing (Stage 2 or 3 of Nurnberger-Muller grading scale of cellulite7).
  • Subjects who are willing and have the ability to understand and provide for participation in the study and are able to communicate with the investigator.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Subjects who are unable to understand the protocol or to give .
  • Subjects currently under treatment with an antiplatelet or anticoagulant for any medical problem or patients who have coagulation disorder.
  • Subjects who have a known history of cold-induced disease such as cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, or cold urticaria.
  • Subjects who have active skin disease or skin infection in treatment area.
  • Subjects who are allergic to lidocaine or prilocaine.
  • Subjects who are allergic to both cephalexin (and penicillin) AND levofloxacin (or another quinolone antibiotic).
  • Subjects who have history of abnormal scarring.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
22 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    cryolipolysis

    Device: cryolipolysis

  • Active comparator
    subcision

    Procedure: Subcision

  • Active comparator
    Control

    Areas with cellulite that had no treatment performed were considered the control arm.

    Other: Control

Interventions

  • Devicecryolipolysis

    During cryolipolysis, the system drew fat tissue into an applicator then exposed the extracted fat tissue to cold temperatures. The cold exposure caused fat cells to die, with the goal to decrease the raised areas of cellulite

  • ProcedureSubcision

    Subcision was performed by inserting a specially designed needle under the skin after local numbing medication is injected. The needle is moved in a repetitive motion parallel to the skin to separate the surface tissue from the deeper scar tissue with the goal to improve the dimpling caused by these tissues sticking together.

  • OtherControl

    Also known as: No intervention in this group

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Blinded Rating of the Treatment Area (Cryolipolysis vs. Subcision) With the Best Cosmetic Appearance.

    Two dermatologists blindly evaluated and compared the treated and control areas of each side at the final follow up visit (week 12). They rated the area with the best cosmetic appearance and reported the percentages of participants for whom "Cryolipolysis" or "Subcision" resulted in the "best cosmetic appearance". It was possible for raters to determine that neither treatment outperformed the other, thereby rating the control arm better.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

07

Results

Posted Feb 3, 2014

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneSubjects Receiving Split Body Treatment
Started22
Completed18
Not completed4
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject1
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up3

Outcome measures

PrimaryBlinded Rating of the Treatment Area (Cryolipolysis vs. Subcision) With the Best Cosmetic Appearance.

Two dermatologists blindly evaluated and compared the treated and control areas of each side at the final follow up visit (week 12). They rated the area with the best cosmetic appearance and reported the percentages of participants for whom "Cryolipolysis" or "Subcision" resulted in the "best cosmetic appearance". It was possible for raters to determine that neither treatment outperformed the other, thereby rating the control arm better.

Time frame:
12 weeks
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Blinded Rating of the Treatment Area (Cryolipolysis vs. Subcision) With the Best Cosmetic Appearance.
Percentage of participantsCryolipolysisSubcisionControl
Blinded Rating of the Treatment Area (Cryolipolysis vs. Subcision) With the Best Cosmetic Appearance.22.22 (6.41 to 47.64)33.33 (13.34 to 59.01)44.44 (21.53 to 69.24)

Adverse events

Non-serious events are listed at a 2% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Cryolipolysis—0/22 (0%)0/22 (0%)
Subcision—0/22 (0%)3/22 (13.6%)
Control—0/22 (0%)0/22 (0%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventCryolipolysisSubcisionControl
lumpsGeneral disorders0/222/220/22
small ulcerGeneral disorders0/221/220/22

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Subjects Receiving Split Body Treatment
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years22
>=65 years0
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Subjects Receiving Split Body Treatment
Mean39.4 ± 11.2
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Subjects Receiving Split Body Treatment
Female22
Male0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Subjects Receiving Split Body Treatment
United States22
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology
    Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
Not marked actual or estimatedDates not marked actual or estimated

The record gives a start of Oct 2010, a primary completion of Sep 2011 and a completion of Sep 2011. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.

Results were first posted in Feb 2014, 2 years 5 months after primary completion.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 24, 2010
First posted
Sep 27, 2010
Start
Oct 2010
Primary completionActual
Sep 2011
CompletionActual
Sep 2011
Results first posted
Feb 3, 2014
Last update
Dec 3, 2021
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 3, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01209767
Responsible party
Murad Alam (Professor in Dermatology, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and Surgery-Organ Transplantation, Northwestern University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 27, 2010
Start date
Oct 2010
Primary completion
Sep 2011
Completion
Sep 2011
Results posted
Feb 3, 2014
Last update
Dec 3, 2021

Study contacts

Murad Alam, MD
principal investigator · Northwestern University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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