| Recently, the FDA admonished six U.S. spas and one | | | | market the treatment for body contouring, no one |
| Brazilian company for overstating the effectiveness | | | | can claim it is truly "effective" for this indication. |
| of the fat-dissolving injection LipoDissolve, leaving | | | | The FDA issued warning letters to the US medical |
| many consumers wondering exactly how effective | | | | spas and Brazilian company because they stated that |
| and safe this treatment really is. While little research | | | | the products used in LipoDissolve "are superior to |
| on LipoDissolve has been performed in the United | | | | other fat-loss procedures, including liposuction," which |
| States, recent clinical studies suggest that | | | | has not be proven. Without evidence from clinical |
| LipoDissolve diminishes fat without serious side | | | | trials, there is no way to verify that LipoDissolve is |
| effects. | | | | "superior," and as of this writing there remains no |
| What Does It Do? | | | | non-invasive treatment that is more effective than |
| In a nutshell, LipoDissolve works by breaking down | | | | liposuction. |
| the bonds among fat cells, dissolving them and then | | | | What LipoDissolve can do is treat small areas on the |
| allowing the body to process out the cells. | | | | body without making incisions or having to "suction" |
| LipoDissolve has been shown to reduce the | | | | the fat out. This can be advantageous for those not |
| appearance of cellulite as well. A few treatments are | | | | wanting to go "under the knife," but patients should |
| usually required to maximize results, which can | | | | recognize that the results can take a few weeks to |
| typically be seen in about 4-6 weeks, and it is most | | | | appear and are not nearly as extensive as traditional |
| effective on smaller areas of concern. | | | | liposuction. |
| What's In It? | | | | But Does It Work? |
| There are two main ingredients in LipoDissolve: | | | | There is a lot of anecdotal and testimonial evidence |
| phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate (PC/DC). | | | | for LipoDissolve's effectiveness and there are more |
| Phosphatidylcholine is a naturally occurring enzyme | | | | studies being done to determine exactly which |
| and the main part of soy lecithin, which has been | | | | formulations are most effective in the body |
| medically proven to break down fat. Deoxycholate is | | | | contouring context. Recently, the American Society |
| a naturally occurring bile salt that is produced by the | | | | for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reported the |
| liver. In addition to PC/DC, providers will include a | | | | preliminary results of a small study that utilized |
| number of other ingredients to reduce swelling or | | | | magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) to measure the |
| increase effectiveness. | | | | changes in fat after treating patients with a |
| What's The Controversy? | | | | standardized PC/DC cocktail. The study showed that |
| The controversy with LipoDissolve sparked from the | | | | LipoDissolve dissolved about 1 centimeter of fat |
| relatively small volume of clinical studies and the | | | | without any serious side effects (side effects did |
| implications that come with little clinical evidence. | | | | include swelling, redness, bruising and some pain). In |
| LipoDissolve was originally formulated in Brazil in the | | | | addition to using LipoDissolve, some professionals are |
| 1990s and treatments have been performed | | | | adding laser fat treatments to increase the amount |
| worldwide, but LipoDissolve has not been subjected | | | | of fat reduction. |
| to the types of clinical trials that would lead to FDA | | | | Until more studies are completed, it is important for |
| market clearance. | | | | patients to be aware of the benefits and risks of |
| Without FDA approval and a set formula, providers | | | | LipoDissolve. LipoDissolve can be a viable alternative |
| are able to mix their own cocktails. This can lead to | | | | to liposuction, for the right candidate who has realistic |
| widely varied results, though skilled and experienced | | | | expectations about what the treatment is meant to |
| providers are able to achieve significant outcomes for | | | | achieve. |
| their patients. Nevertheless, without FDA approval to | | | | |