Lose Fat Without Surgery

New technologies claim to eliminate fat without surgery.
In the New York Times (2/4, E1) Skin Deep column on the front of the Thursday Styles section, Catherine St. Louis observes that the Zerona laser is the latest technology claiming to eliminate fat without surgery. Another device, called the Zeltiq, "uses controlled cooling to target and eliminate fat cells, a process called selective cryolipolysis." Both devices are said to have been "aggressively marketed" as ways of targeting fat, despite the fact that they have "yet to receive FDA clearance to promote this use." FDA spokeswoman Karen Riley said the ads are "considered off-label promotion if you are marketing to the public a use that has not been cleared." The UK's Telegraph (2/3) also ran a similar examination of the Zerona treatment.