Lipodissolve
Don't we all wish there was a magic wand to slim those small areas with a bit of extra pudge? Lipodissolve, also known as mesotherapy, is a non-surgical plastic surgery procedure advertised as the alternative to more invasive fat removal options. However it looks like we are all still waiting for our magic answer to extra padding. Lipodissolve is an experimental procedure, problematic in the concept, and can result in dangerous side effects.
Here is how the procedure is often described to patients:
Lipodissolve is a small injection of a chemical compound to melt fat in a localized area.
The reality of the procedure is this:
Lipodissolve is a needle filled with acid that will dissolve anything in the injection site, which we hope is fat, and assume the body will dispose of properly.
This procedure is not approved by the FDA, and there are no guidelines to the chemical concoction used to melt away fat. Primarily PCDC (phosphatidylcholine deoxycholate) is used, with additional additives like vitamins, and other plant extracts. Phosphatidylcholine is a soybean extract. Soybean extracts are used heavily in medicinal and cosmetic applications as a safe delivery system for chemical compounds; it is an inactive ingredient.
Deoxycholate is more sinister in it's origins-- it is a derivative of bile. Bile is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies, we create it as part of the digestive process. However, our body cavities exposed to bile are lined to prevent the highly acidic liquid from damaging other areas. During Lipodissolve, patients are overriding their body's natural security measures for the hazardous liquid.
The fat dissolving effects of Lipodissolve are not disputed, the procedure does indeed use acid to break up fat compounds. Unfortunately, this chemical reaction is not controlled once the PCDC is injected. When done haphazardly, the same chemicals can kill muscle tissue, blood tissue, and result in permanent disfigurement under the skin.
An additional problem is where does the dissolved fat go? The best outcome is the dissolved fat cells pass through the digestive system and are removed as waste. However, part of this processing puts the fat cells in close contact with fat-susceptible organs, namely the liver and blood vessels. The fat cells can stop at the liver, placing this vital organ in peril, or worse cause clots in the capillaries.
Not only is Lipodissolve not FDA approved, there is currently legislation in the works to ban the procedure in a handful of states. Even trade organizations for licensed plastic surgeons are not recommending this procedure until clinical trials determine the risks and benefits. Finally, the procedure is touted as the alternative to liposuction, the only established method that permanently removes fat cells, but it may be more costly. Most Lipodissolve treatments require four to six injections, so the overall procedure could easily become a greater pinch in the pocketbook.
Bottomline: There is too much unknown about the full effects of Lipodissolve, and the known facts about the procedure are not risks to take lightly.
