Lotion improves skin texture, firmness following nonsurgical fat reduction procedure

Key takeaways:

• After 12 weeks of application, overall skin firmness improved by 61% from baseline.
• Skin texture improved by 59% and 71% in the inner thighs and back/bra fat area by week 12.

A topical body lotion was efficacious and well tolerated for improving skin firmness and texture as an adjunct treatment to cryolipolysis, according to a study.

“The use of [noninvasive body contouring techniques] continues to grow,” Craig Teller, MD, a dermatologist at Bellaire Dermatology, and colleagues wrote. “Worldwide, an estimated 560,464 nonsurgical fat reduction procedures were performed in 2020, an increase of 29% vs. 2016.”

Cryolipolysis, a process where controlled cooling extracts heat from tissue to reduce fat, comprised more than a quarter of the nonsurgical fat reduction procedures techniques used by consumers. After undergoing cryolipolysis, individuals tend to experience skin tightening and texture improvement in the treated areas. However, a supplemental topical may enhance these outcomes even further.

In this open-label, single-site, single-arm, 12-week study, the authors evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of SkinMedica Firm & Tone Lotion for Body (Allergan Aesthetics), a botanical, topical body skin treatment, as an adjunct to cryolipolysis in 17 subjects (age range, 20-65 years; 16 women) who had pre-elected to receive one or more treatments of cryolipolysis. Treatment areas included the inner thigh, back/bra fat or submental areas.

Immediately following the procedure, the firming and toning cosmetic body lotion (FTB) was applied to the cryolipolysis-treated areas. After 12 weeks of application, skin firmness was observed in all treatment areas with patients experiencing a 61% overall improvement from baseline (P .0006).

Compared with baseline, patients saw skin texture improvement in the inner thighs (59%; P .009) and back/bra fat area (71%; P .009) by week 12, but not in the submental area.

With continued FTB use, more than 70% of subjects agreed that skin firmness, smoothness and overall appearance improved. Also, more than 90% stated that the formula “made my skin feel hydrated” and “made my skin feel smooth and soft.”

Additionally, 71% of patients agreed that FTB was an effective adjunct to cryolipolysis and 86% were satisfied by week 12.

Two subjects reported one adverse event each, both of which were considered mild and likely related to FTB.