Fat Dissolving Injections

What are Fat Dissolving treatments?

Lipolysis, or fat dissolving injections, are an individually tailored, injectable treatment that permanently destroy fat cells. Lipolysis is revolutionising the treatment of stubborn fatty deposits, particularly the the double chin, without surgery. In some cases, the outcomes are as good as liposuction, without the anaesthetic, downtime or scars.

Lipolysis is perfect for isolated pockets of subcutaneous fat, such as the double chin, fat around the bra line or even stubborn fat deposits around the the waist line. However, It is not a substitute for diet or exercise, and we always recommend revising your lifestyle if you are looking into this treatment. It is suitable for male and female clients, of any age.

Unfortunately, you can’t just inject it all over your body! Fat dissolving injections are only used for for discrete, small areas of fat such as the double chin, bra strap or inner thigh. More severe areas of fullness get better results and as a general guide, you should expect a 2 sessions treatment to reduce fullness down to a noticeable level.

How does Lipolysis work?

The main ingredients of Lipolysis products are deoxycholic acid, phosphatidlycholine, B vitamins and antioxidants, depending on what product you use.

Deoxycholic acid and phosphatidlycholine are natural products found in our body. Deoxycholic acid is a biological detergent, and helps to breakdown cholesterol and fat in our intestines. Phostphatidylcholine is a phospholipid and is the main substance making up our cell walls. When injected into fat deposits, these compounds destabilise the cell walls of fat cells (adipocytes) causing them to break apart or "lyse".

The great news for us is that t his treatment is permanent, the fat cells cannot grow back as they are destroyed and cleared by the body, which may take 8-10 weeks. Even better, when done in the correct plane, the treatment can tighten the skin as it heals, improving skin tone and laxity. This is an added bonus!

Product Choice

We have 2 products in the clinic to offer clients.

The products have similar outcomes and are both safe and backed by evidence. “TGA approved” means the government has approved the use of a product and reviewed it thoroughly. The Type 1 product is only TGA approved for the double chin area. It is more expensive due to the rigorous research, development and marketing associated with the product. The Type 2 product is backed by independent research and has been used by medical professionals for the last 20 years. It has slightly different ingredients. This product is commonly used for the double chin area but also for body areas such as bra fat bulges, love handles and the abdomen. Just because it is not TGA approved it does not mean it is safe, however we need to disclose this information to you so you can make the best choice for you.

Booking

Consultation

Patient selection and a discussion about downtime are absolutely essential before this is considered- we will not perform this procedure if we don’t think it will be effective. Please book as assessment consultation FIRST with one of our registered nurses or Dr Grant, so we can assess your problem area and discuss the treatment. This is complimentary. If there are any concerns you will need to see Dr Grant.

Procedure
The procedure requires a bit of planning and a lot of drawing up! We recommend taking 2x ibuprofen tablets 20 minutes prior to your treatment. We will take photos, assess the local area and then mark up the treatment area to ensure even distribution of the product. We will inject the product. You may notice stinging, itching, swelling and redness straight away, Bruising is also common.


Recommended Plan

  • Type 1 (TGA Listed for Double Chin): At least 2 treatments, 6 weeks apart. Review 2 months after the last treatment to assess if subsequent treatments are required to reach aesthetic outcome.

  • Type 2 (not TGA listed, compounded by Thrive): 1- 4 treatments, 8 weeks apart. Review 2 months after the last treatment to assess if subsequent treatments are required to reach aesthetic outcome.

Planning
Allow 2 weeks before an event (at least) in case bruising occurs. Allow 4 months for the treatment to take the full effect, so if you are planning this before a wedding or big event, it’s best to do it 4-6 months ahead.

Downtime / aftercare
There is significant downtime and you need to expect discomfort, redness, swelling, bruising and nodules. The first 24- 48 hours will be the worst- you may feel slightly achey and have significant swelling and discomfort. This will settle - paracetamol and ice may help. After a few days the acute swelling will settle and leave a firm lump that will take a few weeks to be absorbed.

Pricing

  • Type 1

    • Double Chin: $2, 400 for 2 sessions,

    • Can be done off label in other areas. See us for details.

  • Type 2

    • Double Chin: $500 per session

    • Body: e.g. anterior/posterior bra line, “love handles” etc usually from $900 per area. More for larger areas like the abdomen. We will discuss the price in your initial consultation.

    • 1 -3 sessions will be required.

Due to Australian Medical Board guidelines we are unable to advertise the brand of fat dissolving injection we use. We can discuss this if you contact us.

Special Considerations

  • Not suitable for pregnant or breast feeding women.

  • Not suitable for those with unstable diabetes or immunosuppressed patients.

  • Works well in combination with Tixel for skin tightening and dermal fillers along the chin/ jawline to give a defined jawline profile.

Before & After