According to a medical journal published on the condition, PAH is said to be a "rare, previously unreported side effect of cryolipolysis with an incidence of 0.0051%." It most commonly occurs in men but "no single unifying risk factor has been identified." In the case mentioned in the study, it caused "a rectangular, sharply marginated subcutaneous soft tissue mass" in the area of the treatment application. "It is most commonly seen on the abdomen and flanks," said board-certified dermatologist Bruce Katz, MD, of JUVA Skin and Laser Center in NYC.
Dr. Sobel and Dr. Katz said they've seen patients come into their practices with PAH that they've had to correct through a series of procedures, including liposuction. "PAH cannot be treated with non-invasive methods," said Dr. Katz. "I have treated a few of these PAH cases throughout the years successfully, and think these types of cases have gone underreported."
