Injection Lipolysis Dissolves Unwanted Fat
In addition to CoolSculpting, another nonsurgical method at Skinspirations for reducing resistant fatty areas is Injection Lipolysis, which dissolves unwanted fat with medications.
Kybella® is the first FDA-approved medication to treat submental fullness, otherwise known as a "double chin". It consists of deoxycholic acid which is the same substance naturally found in bile that's responsible for digesting fat in the intestines.
Injection Lipolysis can be used on other body areas such as the jowls, thighs, flanks, abdomen, bra strap area, and knees, as long as the fat layer is at least 1/2" deep. Lipomas, which are round, soft rubbery masses under the skin can also be reduced in size using lipolysis.
Fat cells dissolved with lipolysis don't return although surrounding fat cells can increase in size with weight gain.
Most people get visible improvement in two to four treatments, spaced a month or more apart. We see an average decrease in the circumference of about 1" in the thighs or abdomen after a series of four treatments, but results vary.
What Should You Expect During an Injection Lipolysis Treatment?
Injection Lipolysis consists of a medication naturally found in the bile that kills fat cells, mixed with an anesthetic. The medication is injected through tiny needles into fatty areas that must be at least 1/2 inch thick and located above the knees. In the first few hours after the treatment, the treated area becomes pink and may itch and/or burn, which is uncomfortable but tolerable, and most patients continue with their usual activities.
There is some swelling & possible bruising with the treatments but the swelling resolves over the following few days. Some people note that the treated area feels numb for a few weeks but that sensation is temporary. With body treatments, it's not uncommon to feel some bumps under the skin for up to a few months, but they're usually not visible & will eventually disappear. In the weeks following the treatment, the treated fat cells break apart and are processed by your body like the fatty acids in your diet.
When Will I See Results?
Like CoolSculpting, the results of Injection Lipolysis appear gradually over a few months, as the fat cells die & disappear. Results vary of course, but in our experience, patients average a loss of about 1/2" in the circumference of their thighs or abdomen, after four treatments.
Injection lipolysis using phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid was first described in the medical literature by Brazilian dermatologist Dr. Patricia Rittes in 2001. Dr. Elliott attended one of the first U.S. injectable lipolysis training seminars taught by Dr. Rittes and other world experts in 2008 and has performed over 1,000 lipotherapy treatments safely since then.
How Do I Choose Between Injection Lipolysis & CoolSculpting?
Injection lipolysis is a good option for small areas of fat reduction such as under the chin, the upper or lower abdomen, or love handles, for example. For multiple or larger areas, CoolSculpting is probably a better choice, and no injections are required.
Call us at 727-571-1923 soon for a complimentary consultation to learn what nonsurgical body contouring method is best for you.