Obesity is a common health problem for most people in today’s times. The fast, hectic yet sedentary lifestyles have taken a toll on the body and resulted in increased rates of obesity, stress, and other lifestyle related disorders. Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons have developed a remedy for the removal of excess fat cells from the body in a fast and efficient manner.

The procedure for this is termed as ‘injection lipolysis’. It is a fairly recent cosmetic technique first introduced in the 2000s. Under this procedure, the body is injected with various drugs which destroy fat cells. Injection lipolysis is suggested by doctors for patients with severe complications regarding obesity and weight accumulation. It is considered a last resort cosmetic treatment, and has risks associated with it. Injection lipolysis is a regulated and debated procedure.

1. Which drugs are used for injection lipolysis?

PC-DC injections are used under this procedure. It is an alternative to traditional liposuction. Doctors recommend injection lipolysis as an option for patients who do not wish to go under the knife to remove excessive fat from the body. PC stands for ‘phosphatidylcholine’ and DC stands for ‘deoxycholate’.

2. Is the procedure approved by the concerned authorities?

Injection lipolysis is currently approved for double chin treatment by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). It received FDA approval in the beginning of 2019. It is effectively safe to use this treatment to cure double chin problems.

3. Does the procedure provide permanent results?

The drugs administered under the procedure enter the body and directly dissolve fat cells in the affected areas. Injection lipolysis gives permanent results to patients, however they are not immediately visible. It takes around 4 to 8 weeks to see visible results of the treatment.

4. How long does the procedure take?

Injection lipolysis treatments are usually done in a span of 45 minutes to 1 hour. The number of sittings required differs for each case and is best recommended by the doctor concerned. Patients can expect to resume normal activity after a few days after treatment. It is normal to experience some amount of stiffness, soreness or pain. This subsides in due course of time.

5. Is it advisable to undergo this procedure?

It is FDA approved, and is an alternative to traditional surgeries for fat reduction like liposuction. Other kinds of liposuction are radiofrequency lipolysis, laser lipolysis and cryolipolysis. Injection lipolysis is a fairly controversial procedure, however it has proved safe after FDA approvals in place.