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It sounds so exciting and it’s being advertised everywhere- an injection that melts fat. These procedures, which are commonly known as injection lipolysis, mesotherapy, or Lipodissolve, are not the safe and effective miracle fix we are all after. A recent statement by the FDA is clear, “In fact, there are no FDA-approved drugs with an approved indication to dissolve fat and FDA cannot assure the safety and efficacy of these types of drugs. Consumers need to know that this is a buyer-beware situation. These are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses and we can't guarantee consumers' safety.”

 

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have all issued patient safety warnings against the use of injection fat loss treatments. Each organization discourages doctors from giving the injections, and patients from pursuing the treatment. It has been banned in Brazil and Canada, strongly discouraged in England, and the subject of judicial review in Kansas and Nebraska.

 

Overall, there are no published scientific studies demonstrating the effects of injection lipolysis, how the ingredients of the cocktail work to melt fat, or how safe the procedure is for patients. And again, there is no standardization for the formula used in this procedure. The types of drugs used during the procedure vary from physician to physician as does the quantity and frequency of injections. There are other aspects of this treatment that are glossed over in all the hype. Usually multiple sessions, with multiple injections per session, are required. And, there is significant swelling (and localized pain) which will not resolve for up to eight weeks.

 

"The doctors doing this are driving ahead of their headlights," said Los Angeles plastic surgeon Brian Kinney, past president of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation and professor of plastic surgery at USC. "They are practicing way outside the bounds of science, which is why some of us are uncomfortable. There's a lot we don't know about these chemicals, including how they affect nerves, tissue and blood vessels. We don't know what happens to the fat once it's dissolved, whether it enters the bloodstream or the lymphatic system."

 

Numerous complications have been reported including bacterial infection, granulomas (disfiguring masses of chronically inflamed tissue) and localized necrosis (tissue death), particularly when non-physicians did the injections.  

 

The abrupt closing of Fig LipoDissolve Centers, a large chain of injection lipolysis centers in several states across the nation, has raised many questions from both patients considering treatment, and those who have already been injected using this unproven medical treatment. “Consumers should not ignore the proliferation of blogs and media that are reporting the ineffectiveness and the complications experienced by fat-melting injections,” said Richard A. D’Amico, ASPS President. “This mixture is not FDA approved nor has it been formally tested for predictable results or safety. That alone should steer consumers away from the marketing hype.”

 

We are optimistic that some injection method of body contouring may become a safe option for our patients in the future. It's quite possible that this treatment will have a role in our practice if it becomes FDA-approved, and is scientifically proven to be safe and effective. D'Amico agrees: "In the next few years we may have a nonsurgical method of fat removal, but we're not there yet."

 

In the meantime, if you want a proven solution to get rid of fat, we have one:

liposuction. Unlike injection lipolysis, which requires multiple visits and is not an accepted medical treatment, liposuction is over in an hour or two, has predictable outcomes, and an established safety record.