Fat Dissolvers

What are Fat Dissolvers and how do they work?

Fat Dissolvers contain a deoxycholic acid. This is a bile acid which normally emulsifies and solubilises dietary fats in the intestine. When injected subcutaneously, it disrupts and destroys fat cells in that tissue making it the perfect agent to remove stubborn pockets of fat.

The fat dissolver is injected under the skin directly into the fat layer with a special needle or cannula. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic. The solution will dissolve the fat cells, which then undergo degradation and absorption by the body over several weeks.

Fat Dissolving Injections are a safe, effective treatment that reduce fat cells in the treated area. It produces long lasting results, which means you can banish those annoyingly wobbly bits.

These injections can be used to treat small, exercise resistant, pockets of fat around the chin, chest, abdomen, thighs, knees and ankles. It is very effective for body contouring, but is not a treatment for weight loss.​

What happens after fat dissolving injections?

Immediately after treatment with fat dissolving you may notice some redness, swelling, tenderness and a painful sensation in the treated area, as well as numbness from the local anaesthetic. These symptoms generally improve significantly over the next few days.

Are there any risks?

Serious risks of Fat dissolving injection treatments are extremely small, but these include redness, pain, irritation, allergic reaction, pigmentation, tissue necrosis (very rare) and temporary nodules. There are special aftercare instructions you would have to adhere to and the drainage of the treated fat cells can be improved by adding other therapies (e.g. compression and/or ultrasound).

How long do fat dissolving injections last? How many sessions will you need?

The results are permanent, however if you gain weight it will return to the sites. It is therefore important to have a healthy diet and drink lots of water post treatment to encourage drainage.

You'll need between two and eight treatments, depending on the size of the area treated. Most common is two to three treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart.

So what does swelling look like

As your fat cells burst the lymphatic system sweeps in to wash the burst fat cells away. This results in swelling. The swelling can be a lot worse before you see an improvement. The worst of the swelling is usually within the first week and it takes between 4-6 weeks before an improvement is seen. Two or more treatments may be required. Swelling tends to go down quicker with subsequent treatments for most patients.

Ways to minimise swelling

  • Use ice or cold packs after your treatment

  • apply warm compresses within the first few days after your treatment

  • wear a chin strap or strao for the treated area post treatment for added compression

  • take an over the counter antihistamine prior to your appointment

  • use over the counter pain medication to reduce pain and swelling after your treatment

  • firmly massage the area as tolerated.