Lipodissolve Injection

This is the only nonsurgical method to reduce fats. It is based on the natural polyene phosphatidylcholine, a cholesterol-reducing injection for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, which is mixed with a certain formulation and directly injected to subcutaneous fat deposits to damage the cell membrane of adipocytes, thus rendering the necrosis of adipocytes, followed by automatic emulsification and lysis before they are excreted into the lymph circulation and metabolized outside the human body by the liver. Treatment results are only seen after the slow excretion of adipocytes via physical metabolism, so there is a waiting period of 1–2 weeks after each injection, and patients generally need to receive more than 3–4 injections to attain expected results. Because of its relatively long treatment period and different degrees of fat reduction due to individual condition, Dr. Chuang recommends the application of the injection to regional obese parts in no need of large-area liposuction or superficial fat deposits difficult to be distinctly improved by liposuction, such as the chin, cheeks, jowls, upper back, accessary breasts, or even larger areas such as the upper arms, waists, abdomen, knees, calves, or parts of thighs.

Compared with liposuction, lipodissolve injection lyses or damages adipocytes, but it is different in the mechanism of excretion of fats, so it should be correctly injected into the fat layer to obtain maximal results. Its advantages are imperceptible progressive results, almost no recovery period or swelling, and high flexibility in use by injection in a small part at the patient’s discretion, while the disadvantages are that results seem to be seen relatively slowly and may vary along with individuals. The long-term or repeated injections usually cost a lot; thus, it is unable to completely replace fat reduction surgery like liposuction. Besides, it is different from epidermal mesoderm treatment (mesotherapy) in the injection of drugs into the superficial skin layer and is not disputed as it is less likely to cause skin necrosis and complications; thus, as long as patients have normal liver functions and no underlying endocrine diseases, it achieves fat volume loss from a certain site by the injection of a safe dose and provides a noninvasive fat reduction option for those unnecessary to undergo liposuction.

Surgical conditions

Duration

0min
  • Type of anesthesia: Topical anesthesia
  • Type of incision: No
  • Recovery: Immediate
  • Removal of stitches: No

General instructions

No food and water on the day of surgery

0hr
  • Frequent apply a warm compress at and massage the affected sites for 1 week after the injection to prevent lumping.
  • It is forbidden in patients with liver diseases or autoimmune problems.
  • It is forbidden in pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Ideal candidates

  • Patients with mild obesity who do not need to undergo liposuction
  • Those with regional obesity and unnecessary to receive liposuction
  • Those with contraindications for liposuction and high risks
  • Those with refractory fat deposits that cannot be improved by exercises, diet control, or body weight reduction
  • Those with skin unevenness or lumps due to prior liposuction

Possible complications

  • Increase in liver indices
  • Swelling and lumps at the affected sites (temporary)
  • Results short of expectation

Treatment advantages

  1. It is a noninvasive method for fat removal and requires a short recovery period.

  2. It does not possess the risks of liposuction.

  3. Once removed, fats are less likely to recur.

  4. It is injected at separate times and sites, and the course can be flexibly adjusted.

Treatment disadvantages

  1. The process is time consuming.

  2. Treatment results may vary along with individual metabolism function.

  3. Treatment expense may increase along with an increase in the number of body sites and treatment courses.

  4. It may increase the liver load.