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Fat-Dissolving Injections Too Good To Be True?

Lipodissolve, a non-surgical alternative to liposuction, is attracting a steady stream of customers looking to trim problem fat from their bodies, while health officials debate the product’s safety.

From 50,000 to 100,000 Lipodissolve treatments have been conducted in the United States and Europe, according to The American Society of Non-Surgical Aesthetics.

Liposuction is currently far more popular -- there were 300,000 procedures performed in the United States in 2006 -- but Lipodissolve procedures are expected to grow to 500,000 a year in the United States.

During a Lipodissolve treatment, a chemical found in lecithin (phosphatidylcholine deoxycholate) is injected into fatty areas such as “love handles” and “bra rolls,” where it dissolves fat cells.

However, the injectable compound is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and no long-term studies have been conducted on Lipodissolve’s safety.

Among the chief questions about the procedure is where do the fat cells go once they are dissolved. Lipodissolve practitioners say the cells are excreted by your body naturally, but no one really knows for sure.

According to the FDA, Lipodissolve is a “buyer-beware situation.”

After receiving complaints related to Lipodissolve, including pain, nausea, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes, and lumps at the injection site, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, which regulates Kansas doctors, has moved to ban marketing and sales of Lipodissolve. They are the first state to do so.

Proponents of the procedure maintain that it is safer than liposuction because it doesn’t involve surgery, and, according to The American Society of Non-Surgical Aesthetics, Lipodissolve does not require FDA approval because it isn’t a drug, but a treatment.

USA Today September 10, 2007



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just visit your doctor and get a shot or take a prescription pill and make your fat disappear? 

Of course it would!

And with all the AMAZING miracles we have in technology it would seem that this is a reasonable advance. Many of you know that I am a major gadget and technology geek, more so than most of the people I personally know. I subscribe to, and read, about half a dozen blogs and review hundreds of posts a day in this area.

I have also studied medicine for many years and am in a unique position to have developed proficiencies in understanding the latest innovations in both fields. Not many people have this experience. 

With this background I can confidently tell you that you will never see a simple technological solution to obesity in your lifetime.

It is just not going to happen.

It might occur at some distant point, but even then I am skeptical. Might be easier to time travel than to have a “magical” solution for weight loss.

You simply have to address the underlying cause of obesity, which is insulin and leptin resistance. If you lose weight without addressing this issue you will not get the benefits associated with normal weight. You see, weight is just a symptom; it is rarely the reason people die (unless they weigh more than 400 pounds).

It is the leptin and insulin resistance that caused the weight gain that produces the bulk of the pathology associated with extra weight.

Superficially, Lipodissolve appears as a very favorable alternative to the more invasive liposuction, but it is not without its own risks. Redness and swelling, with temporary burning and pain, have all been reported after Lipodissolve treatments.

Further, Lipodissolve is so new that long-term studies have not been conducted… so no one really knows what impact these shots will have on you over time.

Now, I can certainly understand some of you VitalVotes readers who commented that Lipodissolve may give your self-esteem a boost, which then may spur you to transform your eating habits and exercise in positive ways.

But I have a hard time accepting that a chemical injection is the best form of a self-esteem boost.

I would recommend that anyone who’s considering Lipodissolve, or any cosmetic procedure for that matter, first take these steps to improve their self-confidence and physical form:
Aesthetic beauty is clearly important to many of you -- nearly 60 percent of Americans 65 and older are pursuing anti-aging methods, and men and women between the ages of 35 and 50 spent $20 billion on plastic surgery and non-surgery skin treatments in 2003 alone -- but I want to leave you with some food for thought.

If your goal is simply to LOOK younger, cosmetic procedures will certainly give you what you want, but the problem is that these procedures will do nothing to help you FEEL younger.

And what good is it to look like you're 30 if you feel like you're 100?

This is why the lifestyle changes I outlined above always beat cosmetic procedures, hands down. They may not work as quickly, but with some dedication on your end these recommendations will improve your physical form and, best of all, make you FEEL years younger and add QUALITY years to your life.


Related Links:



Comment on This Article Community Comments (31)
 
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
I've had this done myself.  I'm 5'5" and weigh 120 pounds.  I'm very fit, exercise daily and watch what I eat.  However, I have 3 kids and they did a number on my abs.  No matter what I did, I could never get my belly bulge to go away.  I spoke with a plastic surgeon about this and he said that he would not recommend liposuction for me because I don't have a lot of fat.  He recommended lipodissolve instead and referred me to a place that specializes in the procedure.  This treatment has been around for many years and approx. 100,000 treatments have been performed with no severe side effects or deaths.  I did my homework, read all of the studies, talked to others that have done it, etc.  After much research I decided to do it.  I now have a nearly flat tummy once again and feel great about the way I look.  I would recommend this to everyone looking to get rid of a small amount of fat.  It's not really for weight loss.  I only lost 3 pounds but lost 3 inches of fat.

 
M5Donnelly
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 9/2007
M5Donnelly  
Replied

Alaskadude
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
Alaskadude  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
M5donnelly,  I think that is an insane thing to do, but I'm thankful you have the right to experiment on yourself.  I also appreciate your candor and honesty in a forum that is probably not the most nurturing space to reveal such info.
Honestly, it is nice to hear both sides. Thank you. 3 points.


proatc
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
proatc  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
M5Donnelly, just the perfect, exact information I was looking to hear and read.  Even if you had a bad outcome, it is precisely what posts are supposed to do, enlighten the reader on a personal experience to give us a more personal outcome on the topic and improve our perspective. Thank YOU! 


Chitra
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
Chitra  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007

I am surprised the good doctor hasn't reviewed the new hCG weight loss protocol.  That is REAL news right now.  I, and countless others at the HCGDieters Yahoo Group, are losing close to a pound a day average on this regimen.  It is the easiest protocol I have ever tried to stick to.  Made famous by Kevin Trudeau, it has been around for years but suppressed by the FDA.  See www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C8850-D4F2833067 for a VLOG of my progress.  It really is the answer to my prayers for a way out of compulsive binge eating and obesity.  Hallelujah!



lindblad
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
lindblad  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007

Thanks to MdDonnelly.  After thinking of doing this for a few years, I will get it done this summer.  It is especially good for people who need to loose inches in certain places not for overall weight loss.  This procedure has been in Europe (France) for decades with no ill effects.  Those with complains are probably done by "professionals" who are not qualified.  I've tried Fucothin for 3 months with absolutely no results.



livelovelaugh
Novice User Novice User Joined On 9/2007
livelovelaugh  
 
Posted On Sep 27, 2007

You did your research and that's all you can do.  There will always be someone or several someones who will disagree with any decision you make.  And as you can read online there are so many things that can harm you ... why should this matter right?  The air we breath is polluted...our water is unsafe.  Vaccinations that our children as well as ourselves have received and the list goes on and on.  

Congrats on your fat loss!


 
 
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
Lets try first- Giving the body a complete bath on the inside, cleansing, nourishing, revitalizing, with whole raw food and a little good water that will reach into those hard to get to places and clean our inners like never before so we can give our cells a fighting chance to breath and perform their duty of ridding us of all of that metobolic waiste build up--including the unwanted bad fats.

 
Rogway
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
Rogway  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
"One of these days in your travels, a guy is going to show you a brand new deck of cards, on which the seal is not yet broken.  Then this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the Jack of Spades jump out of this brand new deck of cards, and squirt cider in your ear.  But, Son, do not accept this bet, because as sure as you stand there, you're going to wind up with an ear full of cider."

Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) to Nathan Detriot (Frank Sinatra) in the 1955 Movie Adaptation Of The Musical: 'Guys & Dolls'


KathieJamisonCote
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
KathieJamisonCote  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007
Rogway - Great choice of words!  Easy to understand.

 
 
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
They ask: where does the fat go?  In a few years, as these women start having heart attacks and strokes and/or lymphoma they will have their answer.  Where else could it go except into the bloodstream or the lymphatic system?

 
Patty D
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2007
Patty D  
Replied

shiva
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 10/2006
shiva  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
PPARGammaGirl -  ... Thank you for confirming what I wanted to state about this item here. .... This type of approach to addressing a health or physical asthetic issue,.. is just a real bad idea. and it's exactly what the pharmaceutical model is all about.

.... Any time you go about trying to eliminate a problem in the body by " attacking or acting to eliminate the symptoms ",.. you are destined to wind up with negative repurcusions or side effects. .... The whole approach really boils down to essentially the same thing as "sweeping the mess under the rug".  .... The mess being the cause of the problem. 

The only true solution to such problems is to understand what the whole system of the person is expressing thru the particular symptom or symptoms,...  and address the needs of that system accordingly. The challenge here is that the individual actually has to take responsibility for their problem and do the work of making the changes in themselves and their life that are required in order to establish balance once again.

Of course there is little or no profit to be made by the pharmaceutical industry in that approach,.. so there is no incentive in the medical system to take that approach. Except of course for the rare medical doctor who really wants to see their patients find true Healing,.. rather than simply temporary relief from symptoms,.. in spite of side effects no less.


ypsidixit
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
ypsidixit  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
PPARGammaGirl: Sold! Where can I buy some? Necrotic fat and lumpy scarring sounds so much more preferable to eating less, eating better, and exercising 3X a week...for free.


KathieJamisonCote
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
KathieJamisonCote  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007
Patty D - excellent points!

GammaGirl - thanks for the breakdown!
Definitely not a good choice of "taking off a few" (or a lot.)


samurai
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007

Thanks so much for the info, PParmagirl.


 
 
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
I have the best fat-burning injection; it's called knowledge.

 
samurai
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
Replied

Reesacat
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 1/2007
Reesacat  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
Well said, Samurai!


KathieJamisonCote
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
KathieJamisonCote  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007
I concur and agree samurai and Reesacat!

 
 
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
I completely agree with the necessity of first-and-foremost eating right and making healthful decisions.  Certainly putting something new into your body shouldn't be taken lightly;  I've been a firm believer of this all my life.  Nonetheless, I am very impressed with adding this science to the tool box of things that can help me look as good as I feel.  In fact, I was so impressed with lipodissolve, that I even work for a major provider  now.  At fig., the focus is providing the patient with the tools to not only make lifestyle changes with their diet and excercise, but also help them get rid of trouble spots they've had all along.  Oftentimes getting rid of those trouble spots is the jump start some people need to really start focusing on their bodies and health and get things moving in the right direction. 
You're right, fat cells are broken down and excreted through the metabolic processes.  And, as with any medical procedure, there are some possible side effects that you mentioned, like swelling, redness, itching.  But far and away, lipodissolve patients are looking for a less-invasive option and lipodissolve is something they are very pleased with in the end. 
Regardless, do your homework.  Check out www.lipoinstitute.org as a great resource for more research and Q & A. 

 
katertot
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 9/2007
katertot  
Replied

Katee Roux
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 7/2007
Katee Roux  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
Honey, you're likely to get banned for this.  You can't post any site to which you have a financial interest.


Terse
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
Terse  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
That's a rough one.  The rules state that she can't personally gain from it.

I don't think though, that she's necessarily trying to get people to try it, but is trying to inform everyone here about it.

It's a fine line, but I hope she'll be ok since she's not directing them to her office or anything. . .


proatc
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
proatc  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
Katee, there is nothing wrong with listing a website for resource purposes.  I highly doubt that katertot would beneficially gain from a non-profit .org website, which is the true definition to obtain a .org delineation.


katertot
Novice User Novice User Joined On 9/2007
katertot  
 
Posted On Sep 14, 2007
Rest assured I am not personally gaining from this website.  You're exactly right, "proatc" and "Terse," I only listed it as a resource for readers to get more information. 
I do appreciate you all reminding me about the rules. 
"Gammagirl" mentioned the detergent effect in breaking down fat cells.  There is a summary of a study talking about just this topic.  It is the last study on the page at  http://lipotherapyinstitute.org/MedResearch.aspx
Best of luck in your research. 


 
 
 
 
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