Injection lipolysis.

In injection lipolysis a substance – today usually deoxycholic acid, a derivative of the body's own bile acid – is injected into a fat deposit. It destroys the cell membrane of the fat cells; the released fats are broken down and excreted by the body over weeks. In Germany one product is licensed for fat under the chin; other areas are off-label uses.

Suitable are small, well-defined deposits at a stable weight: double chin, jowls, small pads on the belly or upper arm. The method is not meant for large-scale fat reduction or as a substitute for losing weight. Two to four sessions six to eight weeks apart are usual.

After the treatment the area swells noticeably – that is part of the effect and lasts a few days to two weeks. Further risks: bruising, numbness, rarely nerve irritation at the chin or uneven results. Treated fat cells do not regrow; with weight gain the remaining cells enlarge.

This lexicon entry is general information and does not replace the medical consultation required under German law (§ 630e BGB).