FAT DISSOLVING TREATMENTS

FAT DISSOLVING INJECTIONS

Fat dissolving injections, also known as lipolytic injections, have quickly become one of the most sought after treatments in cosmetic clinics worldwide. The possibility of getting rid of those stubborn, unwanted fat pockets without surgery seems very attractive, at a time our patients don’t want to hear about operating theatres, downtime and so on.

This is a revolutionary treatment that destroys the localised fat tissue and so eliminates the stubborn fat pockets present in the body, that do not go away no matter how much you exercise or diet. It is the best alternative to surgical liposuction.

Good double chin Celluform

HOW DO THESE TREATMENTS WORK?

Fat tissue is mainly composed of adipocytes, the fat cells. Fat is the way our body stores energy, as this can be quickly released and “burned” to generate energy when it is needed. These cells act as a warehouse for fat – stored as triglycerides (TG) which is the form fat is stored.

Most fat dissolving or lipolytic agents contain deoxycholic acid or DCA. Deoxycholic acid is a biliary acid that occurs naturally in our digestive system, and its role is to facilitate the digestion of fat within our gut.

Deoxycholic acid acts as a detergent, and when injected into the fat pocket, it dissolves the cell membrane of fat cells. When the cell is broken down, the fat is released, and our own cells will eventually take it up and eliminate it via the lymphatic system and the kidneys (urine).

Our body reacts to this destruction of tissue cells with an inflammation, which is perceived as swelling, and a transitory redness of the treated area. This swelling is, in fact, a good sign, as it means that the lipolytic agent is working, tand also because the normal response of our body after something swells is to shrink down, which means volume reduction. Bruising may also be seen after each treatment, but it goes away in a matter of days

This inflammatory reaction takes place during 3 to 4 weeks, and after that the results start to be visible.

An average of 2 to 3 sessions, 4 weeks apart, are normally needed to achieve the desired results, which for most people is the reduction of the stubborn fat pocket.

WHICH ARE THE BEST BRANDS FOR FAT DISSOLVING INJECTIONS?

There are many lipolytic and fat dissolving agents currently in the market. Many of them are not yet available in the UK market. The main lipolytic agents available are:

Aqualyx ®

Aqualyx ®

Aqualyx is the most well known brand for fat dissolving injections. It was first released in Italy in 2007 and now it’s present in 54 countries and growing. Developed by Professor Pasquale Motolesse in Ferrara, Italy, it became the first brand available for reduction of stubborn fat pockets. Its active principle is a specially formulated deoxycholic acid (DCA), encased and buffered as a gelatinous microgel, to minimise the incidence of side effects.. Aqualyx® is delivered using a special technique called “intralipotherapy” designed to make the entire procedure practically pain free.

Dr. Arturo Almeida is one of the most knowledgeable experts in Aqualyx worldwide. He has been using Aqualyx since 2008 and teaching Aqualyx to doctors and registered medical professionals in different countries, including the UK, since 2011. He has been appointed by Marllor Biomedical s.r.l, the manufacturers of Aqualyx, as their Global Aqualyx trainer and Medical Consultant, and he is also the official trainer of Aqualyx in the UK and Ireland.

Pluryal FaceContour / BodyContour

These 2 products belong to the Pluryal remodelling care portfolio, developed in Luxembourg by MD Skin Solutions, that are becoming more popular in the UK. Their main ingredient again is deoxycholic acid, combined with phosphatidylcholine in the FaceContour product. They are designed to be delivered by multi-injection technique, although it can be combined with the intralipotherapy technique for the FaceContour product. They are now present in 60 countries and endorsed by well-respected doctors worldwide.

Dr. Almeida will become a Pluryal trainer in the UK starting 2022.

Celluform ®

Celluform ®

Celluform ® is also manufactured in Italy, and it has been available in the market since 2009. It’s active principle is also DCA, with some added ingredients such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) and Arnica. It comes in 2 different presentations, one designed to treat stubborn fat in the body, as well as to improve cellulite, and the other- Celluform+ – specifically designed to dissolve the unpleasant submental fat, also referred to as “double chin”

Dr. Arturo is the official trainer for Amedica UK, the official distributor of Celluform in the UK and Ireland, and has also helped to introduce this product to other prestigious training academies in the UK, such as Avanti Academy

WHO CAN DELIVER THESE TREATMENTS?

Only trained and qualified medical practitioners should deliver these treatments. And that is the situation in most countries. And only with the appropriate certification will Insurers approve them to practice fat dissolving injections.

However, due to the lack of clear regulation in the UK, literally anyone can provide these treatments. However, and because in many cases the technique used to deliver the product is not the correct one, results are not as good as expected and, what ‘s worse, side effects that should not happen are seen. This is particularly with Aqualyx fat dissolving injections.

Please be very careful when choosing your practitioner for your fat reduction injections, and in particular, for your Aqualyx fat dissolving treatments. Make sure that they are fully trained by an approved trainer, that they have experience and know how to deal with unwanted side effects and that they are fully insured.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS