Method of reducing fatty deposits in the human body

A method of reducing or removing fatty deposits in a human body comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a cooling device having a cooling fluid source and a cooling fluid panel adapted to be placed on the human body having the fatty deposits for reducing the skin surface temperature by entering into a heat-exchange relationship therewith, said panel comprising at least one heat-exchange surface, at least one fluid conducting passage running largely through said heat-exchange surface, a inlet conduit for directing relatively low-temperature cooling fluid from said cooling fluid source into said fluid conducting passage, an outlet conduit for directing relatively high-temperature cooling fluid out of said fluid conducting passage, and means for controlling the temperature of the cooling fluid flowing as it flows into said cooling fluid panel;
• (b) placing said heat-exchange surface of said cooling fluid panel on a surface portion of a human body in a heat exchange relationship therewith;
• (c) flowing a cooling fluid through said cooling fluid panel;
• (d) providing a temperature controlling means for controlling the temperature of said fluid such that heat is extracted by said heat exchange surface from the surface portion of said human body adjacent to said heat exchange surface thereby reducing the temperature of said surface portion to a temperature between about 15.degree. and 25.degree. C.;
• and
• (e) maintaining said cooling fluid panel on said surface portion of said human body to be treated for a period of time sufficient for said human body to consume fatty deposits to make up for heat loss to the cooling device.