Background: Cryolipolysis, commercially known as "CoolSculpting®" is a non-surgical treatment for localised fat reduction. Marketed as a safer alternative to liposuction, it is now widely available in beauty clinics and as a home device. This technique employs controlled cooling to induce adipocyte apoptosis but carries the risk of thermal injury and cold burns.
Cases: We present two cases of full thickness burns caused by cryolipolysis. The first case involves a 35-year-old male who sustained 2% full thickness burns on his abdomen from a commercial cryolipolysis procedure. He required debridement and a split thickness skin graft. The second case is a 28-year-old female who presented with a two-week-old infected burn injury on her right lateral chest wall, caused by a home cryolipolysis device. The 0.5% full thickness burn was initially treated with antibiotics, followed by debridement and a split thickness skin graft.
Conclusion: These cases highlight the risk of serious burn injuries from cryolipolysis, despite its promotion as a safter non-surgical fat reduction method. Patients seeking weight loss and aesthetic improvements risk sustaining significant burn injuries, resulting in risk of infection and cosmetic concerns. Increased awareness of these potential complications is crucial, and early referral to a specialised burns unit is recommended for cool burns resulting from cryolipolysis.