VLCC fined Rs.3 lakh by CCPA for deceptive ads on CoolSculpting and Lipolaser treatments

VLCC fined Rs.3 lakh by CCPA for deceptive ads on CoolSculpting and Lipolaser treatments

The matter was raised by a Hyderabad resident, Ajay Gupta, who questioned the firm’s claims in its fat loss campaign

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed Rs.3 lakh on VLCC for publishing misleading advertisements of its CoolSculpting and Lipolaser treatments.

The regulatory body stated that the company made exaggerated claims, without scientific evidence, which misled consumers into believing that the treatments could deliver instant and permanent results.

The matter was raised by a Hyderabad resident, Ajay Gupta, who questioned VLCC’s claims in its fat loss ads.

On investigating, the CCPA observed that the company violated Section 2(8) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which prohibits misleading advertisements.

VLCC promoted ‘CoolSculpting’ as a treatment that could make a client drop one size in a single session and lose up to 7 centimetres or 600 gms instantly.

The authority observed that it created a false impression of guaranteed slimming and weight loss.

CoolSculpting is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). However, it is for reducing small fat bulges in persons with a Body Mass Index of 30 or below, and is not a method for overall slimming or weight loss.

In the ‘Lipolaser’ ads, VLCC promised that customers could lose up to 5 centimetres and 400 gms in one session. Though it did not display scientific studies to support the claim. Moreover, the Lipolaser machine did not have regulatory approvals, raising questions about its safety standards.

The CCPA directed VLCC to add disclaimers in future ads, including details of BMI eligibility and the limited body areas where treatment was approved, as the clinical trials did not cover all demographics.

The regulatory authority also noted that the original CoolSculpting trials submitted to the US FDA involved only 57 participants of non-Asian origin. In its Indian ads, the company did not disclose this fact.

Importantly, VLCC made clients sign declarations that a lack of results would not be treated as a deficiency of service.

The CCPA said this clause should have been part of the ad as a disclaimer rather than hidden in forms. It stated that such clauses were unfair and prejudicial to consumer interests since they attempted to shield the company from accountability.

Meanwhile, doctors have cautioned that CoolSculpting is not a weight loss treatment but only a body contouring option with modest results. Consumers are advised to confirm their eligibility, understand risks such as PAH, and seek consent before undergoing the procedure. They added that ads promising instant fat loss or dramatic size reduction should be treated with care.