Lipodissolve, or mesotherapy as it is sometimes called, is a relatively new procedure that is being presented as an alternative to traditional liposuction techniques to treat small areas of localized fat. Rather than a surgery requiring anesthesia, Lipodissolve promises results in dissolving the fat over a series of injections spaced several weeks apart. Since there is no surgery, it is being marketed that there is no down time. And since there is no anesthesia involved, there is no chance of a bad reaction from that. The injections range in price from $375 to $1500, depending on the size of the injection, which in turn is dependent on the size of the area to be treated, such as under the chin, the thighs, or love handles.
Relatively inexpensive injections, no surgery, no anesthesia, and no down time with Lipodissolve, so where is the catch? Well, there are several factors to consider with Lipodissolve, mesotherapy, lipolysis, injection lipolysis, or Lipostabil, or any other name by which this procedure is called. First and foremost the primary compounds phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate (PC/DC) have not been approved by the FDA for injection. These drugs are currently approved for breaking down blood fats for reducing the risk of heart disease, but they are not approved for any other purpose. Typically FDA approval requires animal testing, small clinical trials, and long-term after market studies. Currently there are a small number of clinical trials testing the effectiveness of these injections.
The second consideration in weighing the pros and cons of Lipodissolve is the fact that there is currently no industry standard for what makes up the injections. While PC/DC is the primary compound in the injections, the remainder of the injection is a combination of multivitamins, ALA, various plant extracts, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, or hormones. The premise makeup of this chemical cocktail is left to the discretion of the individual doctor performing the treatments. Add to this the fact that practice of Lipodissolve is monitored by and restricted by several states and it becomes clear that both individual states and the FDA are proceeding with caution before granting blanket approval for use.
Because this procedure is still new, Lipodissolve is still considered an experimental treatment. Some states restrict the use of Lipodissolve to clinical studies, and many doctors offering Lipodissolve are working to develop a concise list of proper protocols both in developing the injection cocktails and administering treatment. While clinical trials remain small, the full range of potential side effect remain unknown. And since the exact composition of the injections is kept as a proprietary formula, linking specific side effects to specific compounds or techniques remains impossible. Likewise, pregnant or nursing mothers, diabetics, or anyone with a vascular or autoimmune disease are not candidates for Lipodissolve. Though Lipodissolve is a relatively new treatment with a limited number of providers and patients, early results are promising and while some might view the FDA’s response as reluctant, others may view it as cautiously optimistic