The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh on VLCC Limited for publishing misleading advertisements promoting its fat-loss and slimming services using the CoolSculpting machine, approved by the US-FDA for limited purposes.
According to the CCPA’s investigation, VLCC made exaggerated and unsubstantiated promises such as “Lose up to 600g and 7 cm in 1 session,” “Drop 1 size permanently,” and “Lose 6 cm and 400g with Lipolaser.” These claims far exceeded the clinical scope and limitations of the FDA-approved treatment.
The CoolSculpting device, developed by Zeltiq Aesthetics, has FDA approval strictly for reducing localized fat deposits in specific body areas like the arms, thighs, and abdomen. It is not a weight loss treatment, and testing was conducted on a small, non-Indian sample group of 57 participants. Importantly, the US-FDA has not approved or endorsed the use of CoolSculpting in India.
The CCPA concluded that VLCC’s omission of these critical facts misled consumers, violating provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
VLCC has now been directed to:
- Clearly communicate the specific body areas where the treatment is effective.
- State that the procedure is suitable only for individuals with a BMI under 30.
- Explicitly mention in all ads and consent forms:
“The CoolSculpting Procedure is used for treatment of focal fat deposits and not for weight loss.” - Disclose the lack of FDA testing on Indian demographics.
- Avoid any disclaimers that attempt to waive accountability for misleading claims.
The CCPA has also issued a broader warning to all beauty clinics and wellness centers in India to strictly comply with these guidelines when advertising CoolSculpting services.
