Fat dissolving injections in London

How it is meant to work

The substances used in injectable lipolysis are intended to disrupt the membrane of fat cells in the area injected, causing them to break down. The debris is then cleared by the body over the following weeks, which is why the result is gradual rather than immediate and why the area is swollen and inflamed in the meantime.

The inflammation is not incidental. It is part of how the treatment works, and it is the reason the swelling is so much more marked than with other injectables. People routinely underestimate this, and it is the most common source of regret about the timing rather than the treatment.

The regulatory questions to ask, and why

This is the area of non-surgical treatment where the products in use are least straightforward, and the sensible approach is to ask rather than to assume.

1. Which specific product are you using, by name?
2. Is that product licensed in the United Kingdom for this purpose, and if not, on what basis is it being used?
3. Is it a prescription-only medicine, and if so, who has prescribed it for me and did they assess me in person?
4. What is your experience with this product specifically, and how many treatments have you performed?
5. How would you manage a nodule, a contour irregularity or an area of numbness?
6. What is your out-of-hours contact if the swelling worries me?

Where it is used, and where it should not be

The area with the clearest use case is the small pocket of fat beneath the chin in someone at a stable weight with reasonable skin quality. Other areas are treated, including the jaw, the flanks and small deposits on the body, with more variable results and, for larger areas, a good deal of discomfort.

It is not appropriate for:

• Weight loss of any kind.
• Visceral fat, which sits beneath the abdominal muscle and is not reachable.
• Loose skin, which can look worse once the fat beneath it reduces.
• Large or diffuse areas.
• Anyone whose weight is currently changing.
• Anyone whose expectation is a surgical result.

The pinch test is the practical guide. If you cannot take hold of a distinct pocket of fat between finger and thumb, there is little here for the treatment to work on.

Recovery, realistically

• Hours 0 to 12: swelling begins and builds. The area feels hot and firm.
• Days 1 to 4: peak swelling. Under the chin this can be substantial and obvious.
• Days 4 to 10: swelling subsides. Tenderness and firmness continue.
• Weeks 2 to 6: firmness settles gradually; the result begins to appear.
• Weeks 6 to 12: assessment, and a decision about a further session.

Plan for the swelling rather than hoping it will be mild. Do not book this in the month before an event. Sleeping with the head elevated, cool compresses and avoiding salt-heavy food in the first days all help. See the aftercare page.

Risks

Prolonged swelling

Expected rather than exceptional, and more marked than most people are led to believe.

Nodules and firmness

Firm areas that persist for weeks or months. Usually settle, sometimes need treatment.

Contour irregularity

Uneven fat reduction leaving a dip or a step. Difficult to correct.

Skin laxity becoming visible

Removing fat beneath skin that was already lax can produce a worse appearance than before.

Nerve injury

A nerve controlling the lower lip runs near the jaw. Injury produces an asymmetric smile, usually temporary but occasionally prolonged.

Ulceration and tissue injury

Uncommon and serious, associated with injection into the wrong plane.

No meaningful result

A real possibility, and one that should be discussed before you consent.

Alternatives worth considering

• Doing nothing, particularly if weight is not stable.
• Device-based fat reduction using controlled cooling or energy, which has its own limitations and its own rare complications.
• Addressing chin projection, since a recessed chin makes submental fullness look worse and treating it can change the profile more than fat reduction would.
• Surgical assessment where the volume is significant or skin laxity is the main issue.

See jawline filler for the profile question, and how to choose a clinic for verification.