An injection to reduce fat pockets, stretch marks and cellulite? Lipodissolve has been credited with doing all of these things – and more. But is it too good to be true? People looking for another method to trim down have been flocking to doctors’ offices and lipodissolve centers for a “fat fix”, but the procedure doesn’t come without concerns. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and controversy has been plentiful.
What Is Lipodissolve?
Lipodissolve involves a series of injections of a drug compound that helps “melt” fat in localized areas. The procedure has been touted as an innovative, nonsurgical alternative to liposuction. According to the American Society of Nonsurgical Aesthetics, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 lipodissolve procedures have been performed in the U.S. and Europe, and it’s predicted that the number will grow substantially.
Proponents of lipodissolve claim it can be used to treat cellulite, the upper and lower abdomen, upper arms, thighs, saddlebags, stretch marks, scars, left-over fat deposits after liposuction and fat under the eyes or chin. Women most often request lipodissolve injections to dissolve fat on their thighs or abdomens, while men select lipodissolve injections for their jaw lines or love handles. Lipodissolve typically costs around $2,000 per body part and requires a series of about six lipodissolve injections that should be spaced approximately 2 weeks apart. Most lipodissolve patients sign up for multiple body parts at a time.
The main compound used in lipodissolve injections is referred to as PCDC. It is comprised of phosphatidylcholine (PC), a compound derived from soy, and deoxycholate (DC), a naturally occurring bile salt produced by the liver which is used to keep the compound in solution form so it can be injected.
What You Should Know About Lipodissolve
While this less invasive liposuction alternative may sound like a great way to dissolve fat, there are many reasons why you should be cautious. First and foremost is that lipodissolve has not been approved by the FDA. This means many things, including that lipodissolve hasn’t undergone the rigorous studies and research needed to be FDA-approved. Its safety and effectiveness have not been substantiated, and side effects have not been determined. Other reasons you should be careful about lipodissolve include the following:
- Because PCDC injections have not been FDA-approved, there is no standard procedure or process for administering lipodissolve, and the ratio of the two compounds can vary. Some providers also add other medications, herbs and vitamins to the mixture. FDA-approved drugs have a standardized drug formula and method for administering.
- It is unclear how the drug and the broken-down fat cells are cleared from the body because the compound’s mechanism of action has not been studied, as required for FDA-approved drugs.
- Researchers disagree on whether lipodissolve injections actually eliminate fat cells or if they simply liquefy fat so it shifts around in the body, which could create the potential for long-term consequences like the aggravation of heart disease.
- It is not known whether PCDC affects muscle, nerve or other cells in the body.
- Massive swelling and blistering at the injection site have been documented to occur following lipodissolve.
- The PCDC drug used in lipodissolve injections is not regulated, and quality control and sterility can’t be assured.
Cosmetic use of PCDC injections was first introduced in the late 1980s and the formulation was first used in the 1990s in Brazil, but it was banned there by the ANVISA (Brazilian National Agency of Health Inspection). The procedure has recently been in the spotlight in the U.S. because of the closing of a national chain of lipodissolve centers and ongoing attempts by Kansas regulators to enforce restrictions on using lipodissolve in that state.
In September 2007, the FDA issued a statement regarding Lipodissolve saying that “there are no FDA-approved drugs with an approved indication to dissolve fat and [the] FDA cannot assure the safety and efficacy of these types of drugs.” The statement added that “consumers need to know that this is a buyer-beware situation.”
Both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery issued a patient advisory concerning lipodissolve and have cited concerns about its lack of FDA-sanctioned clinical trials and proper research. The results and safety of the procedure are simply not known.
Stay Tuned
While lipodissolve doesn’t have the FDA stamp of approval yet, proponents of the procedure are hoping to make it legitimate. One St. Louis doctor recently received permission from the FDA to conduct a small clinical study on one of the lipodissolve drug mixtures. More information about its safety and effectiveness may be on the way.
