| LipoDissolve is a treatment that uses tiny injections of naturally occurring chemicals to dissolve small, limited areas of fat. The most common chemicals in the compound are phosphatidylcholine (a soybean derivative) and sodium deoxycholate (an emulsifier). Like mesotherapy (a version of the same technique), LipoDissolve has not undergone any rigorous clinical trials to determine whether it is either safe or effective. As a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved its use. In fact, the FDA banned a Web site in 2003 from claiming that the product could dissolve fat. One major unresolved concern is how—and whether—LipoDissolve’s chemicals, which are not active ingredients in any FDA-approved medication, are cleared out of the body. Three professional medical organizations—the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery—have issued cautions against the use of LipoDissolve and similar injection lypolysis treatments. Still, some physicians offer LipoDissolve to their patients as an off-label treatment. The Treatment ClaimsLipoDissolve’s advocates use the treatment to reduce fat on many areas of the body, including the hips, thighs, abdomen, legs, arms, face and neck. They claim that although results vary from person to person, many people lose at least 2 to 6 centimeters (3/4 to 2 1/3 inches) of fat per treatment. The Lipodissolve ProcedureLipodissolve generally takes about 45 minutes and may involve dozens of injections. You’ll experience some discomfort during the treatment (people liken the sensation to mild bee stings) and mild bruising, swelling and soreness for several days afterward. Other reported side effects including nausea, diarrhea and lumps at the injection site. You can return to your normal routine within 1 to 2 days. If your face is being treated, however, it may take up to 10 days for the bruising to subside. Most people need at least 2 to 4 treatments to see results. Results are permanent (as long as you don’t gain weight), but they may not become apparent for several months. Speak to your physician prior to undergoing any fat reduction procedure. |