ZELTIQs

Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., commonly known as Zeltiq, was an American medical device company best known for developing and marketing non-invasive fat reduction technology based on cryolipolysis. The company’s flagship system, CoolSculpting, uses controlled cooling to selectively freeze and destroy adipocytes (fat cells) in treated areas without harming surrounding tissue. Treatments are performed in outpatient clinics and typically last 35 to 60 minutes, with results appearing over several weeks as the body gradually eliminates the damaged fat cells.

Zeltiq was founded in the mid-2000s and received U.S. FDA clearance for CoolSculpting in 2010 for fat reduction of the abdomen and flanks, with later clearance expanding to additional areas. The technology was promoted as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction for targeted fat reduction in areas such as the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and submental region.

In 2015, Zeltiq Aesthetics was acquired by Allergan for approximately $2.4 billion, integrating the CoolSculpting technology into Allergan’s medical aesthetics portfolio. Allergan itself was acquired by AbbVie in 2020, and the CoolSculpting technology remained a core offering within AbbVie’s aesthetics business.

Safety and effectiveness vary by patient. Common short-term side effects include redness, swelling, bruising, and tenderness at the treatment site, which typically resolve after a few days to weeks. Rare complications such as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia have been reported. Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting has since become a widely adopted non-invasive option for targeted fat reduction in cosmetic clinics.