Problem areas are not necessarily associated with an unhealthy lifestyle or being overweight. Even slim, normal-weight and diet-conscious people can be affected by stubborn fat deposits. Despite a fitness program and a change in diet, some fat deposits cannot be reduced and disrupt the image of a well-proportioned body silhouette. Where dieting and exercise do not help, a non-surgical treatment may be able to provide relief: injection lipolysis or “fat-away injection”. Their special composition of active ingredients has the effect of dissolving a certain proportion of the unwanted fat cells.
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What’s behind the fat-away injection
Injection lipolysis has been used since the 1950s to treat or prevent fat embolisms. In aesthetic medicine, it is used to reduce small fat deposits in a targeted manner and without surgery. The treatment involves injecting a special mixture of phospholipids directly into the affected area. The application usually takes no longer than 30 minutes. Since the injection is carried out with a very fine needle, additional anesthesia is usually not necessary. If the patient is highly sensitive to pain or has concerns, an anesthetic cream can be applied beforehand.
Body contouring vs. weight reduction
Even though fat-away injections aim to optimize individual parts of the body by removing annoying fat deposits, they are not a treatment method for weight loss. Removal by small injection is therefore not possible. Injection lipolysis does not replace a change in diet or exercise. A healthy and slim body can still be achieved with conservative measures in the form of regular exercise, targeted training and a healthy and varied diet. If stubborn fat deposits remain, it is sometimes possible to reduce them with the help of injection lipolysis.
The fat-away injection is also rather unsuitable for extensive fat reduction. For larger problem areas, liposuction is therefore usually necessary to achieve the desired contour. But here too, liposuction is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle.
Composition and mode of action
The active ingredient phosphatidylcholine is usually used in the treatment. This is an enzyme in soybeans that causes the fatty tissue to melt slowly. Another common ingredient in the preparation is deoxycholic acid. The mixture of active ingredients triggers a targeted inflammatory reaction in the body. As a result, the cell membrane of the fat cells ruptures. The released fat is then transported away in the form of small droplets via the bloodstream and ultimately broken down by the liver.
Are there any side effects?
Immediately after the injection, the treated areas redden and may swell. The areas may pull slightly or show pressure pain. These side effects are quite normal. These are symptoms of the targeted inflammatory reaction in the tissue, which is intended to break down the fat cells. If necessary, they can be relieved with commercially available painkillers. However, injection lipolysis is generally not associated with any major pain or risks.
On the day of treatment and on the following days, it is advisable to wear loose clothing that does not press on the treatment areas. This can reduce discomfort such as pressure pain. The inflammatory reaction and its side effects subside within about one to two weeks at the latest.
Occurrence and duration of the result
The results of injection lipolysis are not visible immediately after the treatment. It takes a few weeks to dissolve and remove the fat cells. The first results can be assessed after about six weeks. Since not every body reacts in the same way, it may well be that further treatments are necessary to achieve the desired result. In our practice, Dr. Kors, we have found that two to four treatment sessions are necessary to remove the unwanted fat deposits. The interval between the individual treatments is six to eight weeks.
Fat cells that have dissolved do not form again. The results of injection lipolysis are therefore very long-lasting and even permanent. The prerequisite for a long-term aesthetic appearance is a constant body weight. Weight gain, on the other hand, can lead to a redistribution of body fat, so that unpleasant fat deposits can reappear in other parts of the body.
Does the fat-away injection help with cellulite?
Cellulite is a problem for many women. The reason why (almost) exclusively women are affected by so-called orange peel skin is due to the special structure of female connective tissue. The structure between the skin and muscles is softer and more elastic than that of men. In addition, the connective tissue fibers (septa) run vertically in women and are quite thin, whereas in men they are interwoven like a net and thicker. In women, the subcutaneous fatty tissue can therefore penetrate more easily through the flexible and soft skin into the upper layers of the skin and lead to the characteristic dimpled appearance of cellulite.
Fat-away injections are generally not a suitable form of treatment for cellulite. In some cases, treatment with the SculpSure® fat-away laser can help to reduce cellulite. The device generates heat in the tissue, which can not only reduce unwanted fat deposits, but also stimulates the formation of new collagen and thus tightens the skin. This can tighten the silhouette on the thighs. Whether SculpSure® can achieve the desired effect in cellulite treatment in a specific case is examined and discussed by the specialist in a joint consultation.
