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Fat dissolving injections, also called injection lipolysis, are a non-surgical treatment that aims to reduce small pockets of fat by injecting a substance into the fat under the skin. They are most often used for fat under the chin, sometimes called a double chin. They do not involve cutting or general anaesthesia, and they are a different treatment from liposuction, which is an operation, so this page keeps them apart.
The product matters more than the name. The only injectable drug the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for dissolving fat is deoxycholic acid (sold as Kybella), approved for moderate to severe fullness from fat under the chin in adults. Other fat dissolving products, often containing phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate and sold under names such as Lipodissolve or Aqualyx, are not approved by the FDA, which says it has received reports of permanent scars, serious infections, skin deformities, cysts and painful knots after unapproved injections. Whatever the product, ask your doctor what is used, whether it is licensed, and where it comes from.
Deoxycholic acid is a naturally occurring substance that helps the body break down dietary fat. Injected into fat under the chin, it damages fat cells so that the body clears them over time. The US label allows a limited number of injections per session, spaced about one centimetre apart, and up to six treatment sessions at least one month apart. Results appear gradually over weeks to months, not on the day.
It suits adults who have a small, localised pocket of fat, usually under the chin, a stable weight, and realistic expectations. It is not a way to lose weight, and it does not tighten loose skin. If the main problem is loose skin or a weak jawline, injections may not help and the doctor may suggest something different.
Your doctor will want a full medical history before treating you. Tell them about infection or skin problems in the area, bleeding problems or blood-thinning medicines, previous surgery, fillers or injections in the area, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any allergies. Treatment should wait if the area is infected. Do not have fat dissolving injections from anyone who does not examine you first, and avoid buying these products online or injecting yourself.
Common effects of injection treatment of this kind include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and firm areas under the skin. The US prescribing information for deoxycholic acid also lists injury to the facial nerve that controls the lower lip, which can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing; in the trials, these cases resolved. Infection, skin damage and scarring are risks with any injection, and the FDA's warnings about unapproved products describe more serious harm. Seek medical help promptly for severe pain, spreading redness, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or weakness of the face.
Because treatment is a series of sessions rather than one operation, ask the doctor how many sessions you will need, how far apart, and what is realistic if you are travelling. Sessions are typically weeks apart, so ask whether the plan can be arranged around trips to Istanbul and who will check you at home between them. Ask what follow-up you get after you fly home and who to contact if something worries you.
This is a medical, not a surgical, treatment, and the doctor is a physician, not a surgeon. &NewMe lists Dr. Kanat Cavlak, an aesthetic medicine physician at Dr. Kanat Clinic in Zorlu Center, Istanbul. Ask about their training, how many of these treatments they do, which product they use and how they manage complications. &NewMe checks the doctor's registration and the clinic, but you should still ask these questions. See how we verify providers.
Prices are confirmed in a written quote within 24 hours, because they depend on the area, the product and the number of sessions. Ask what is included in each session and whether follow-up is part of the price. Get a free quote and you will receive a written quote confirmed with the doctor, with no fee from &NewMe.
Treatment is performed by independent licensed providers. Results vary, every treatment has risks, and only a doctor who has examined you can say what is right for you.