1) What is Lipodissolve?
Lipodissolve is a method designed to treat localized fat deposits in the body. Small injections of Phosphatidylcholine, which is the chief component of soy lecithin, are injected directly into the skin where there are abnormal deposits of fat which won’t disappear despite proper diet and regular exercise.

2) What is it used for?
Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) is a naturally occurring substance in every cell in the body. It helps maintain lipid balance and it controls what is going in and out of the cell. It increases HDL levels (more commonly known as the good cholesterol). It helps inhibit plaque formation inside of the blood vessels and it is also needed for good brain function. PPC is medically proven to reduce cholesterol, increase metabolism and enhance liver and cellular functions.

3) How does Lipodissolve work?

Lipodissolve has been scientifically proven to break down the fat cell walls. The fat is dissolved into liquid and eliminated from the body in the urine and feces. The result is selective fat lyses by breaking the adipocyte (fat cell) membranes with no damage to neighboring structures like skin, blood vessels, and peripheral nerves. The double layer of the adipocite´s membrane dissolves itself and the agent, functioning like a detergent, finally produces tiny little fat particles of nano-size (one millionth of a millimeter). Simultaneously, a release of enzymes, stored in the mitochondries of the adipocite´s nucleus, takes place which break down the triglycerides into monoglycerides by means of an active enzyme cascade in the tissue over a period of eight weeks. The final step is the transportation into the liver, mostly over high density lipoproteins (HDL) and metabolization via the citric acid cycle through beta-oxydation.

The fat clearance is performed by the physiological pathways, i.e. the lymphatic, venous and immune systems. The triglycerides from the broken cells are released into the interstitial fluid where they are gradually transported through the lymphatic or venous system to the liver. In the liver they are utilized through the physiologic metabolic pathways in a process lasting between several hours to days. The end product is CO2 and H2O, a small amount (less than 1%) is excreted via the renal system in the form of very short-chained fatty acids. The histopathology shows a liquefying necrosis and, to a lesser extent, an apoptosis without forming granulation tissue, necrotic tissue and pus.  This is all assisted by the ketosis of diet, exercise, and a weight loss program.

The capacity of the body to carry away triglyceride molecules is much larger than the amount of triglycerides that are liberated as a result of the treatment. The broken-cells' debris is cleared by the normal inflammatory response, i.e., phagocytosis. These breakdown products are transferred safely through the blood or lymphatics and utilized in physiological pathways and/or carried away in urine or fecal elimination

Depending on the body region injected, one to four treatment sessions are necessary. The majority of patients need either one (17%) or two (72%) injection sessions to achieve the desired results.

The subcutaneous use of phosphatidylcholine is still “off-label”. This means that the subcutaneous injections are totally legal. The responsibility lies with the physician after having explained and discussed the treatment with the patient and a disclaimer form has been signed.

Lipodissolve is the trade name given to a process called injection lipolysis - a term doctors use for getting rid of body fat by injecting a chemical under the skin and around the fat cells.

4) Are there any other benefits with Lipodissolve?
Yes, several. New or future weight gain is accumulated evenly, unlike Liposuction, where uneven ‘dents’ in the areas where fat has been removed are common and also occur with new weight gain. PPC gives excellent results on cellulite and smoothes the ‘orange peel’ effect. The results remain permanent unless there is new weight gain. Clinical trials have also shown PPC being a soy enzyme, to give added vitality to patients (some patients reported an increased physical well-being after injections).

5) What are the known side effects?
Common side effects have been known to contain local pain, minor burning sensation for a few hours, and temporary bruising, itching and soreness may be experienced for 1 to 2 days and swelling of treated areas for two to four days..

This method is completely safe since Phosphatidylcholine is soy based and viewed as an enzyme. Like any other injectable product, it may cause side effects or allergic reactions in some people. Clinical experience from over 8 years of regular daily use show adverse reactions to be extremely rare. Clinical reports from Austria give PPC complete safety reports with a confirmed success rate. This treatment has been used successfully in Europe and South America for over 10 years. 

6) Are there reports of failure?
Yes, in Austria, the failure rate has shown to be 8 % from clinical use. The percentage may be slightly higher from use where physicians lack knowledge of Lipodissolve. This problem is solved by applying alternate sessions of Mesotherapy to loosen up the condensed fat and enable it to be eliminated.

7) Can the solution ‘melt’ other organs?
PPC has been used intravenously since the 1950’s in cardiac related illnesses to reduce cholesterol and plaque. These procedures recommend a much higher dosage on daily treatment than what is used in fat-dissolve procedures once every 14 days. There have never been reports of any ‘melting’ of organs from high dosage use of PPC in the past 50 years.

8) Have dangerous side-effects been reported from clinical use?
Patricia Rittes, M.D. has performed over 26,000 clinical fat dissolve treatments and 2,000 lower-eyelid blepharoplasty since 1995 with Phosphatidylcholine. Dr. Rittes reports that during this period she has not come across one case of serious side effects apart from the known common side effects. Tatiane Kitamura, specialist Brazilian Society of Dermatology has also stated that over a span of 8 years not one single clinical case revealed any dangerous reactions from Lipodissolve treatments. Some cases of severe injections and necrosis have been reported in Brazil from unskilled or illegal non-clinical use, often from unauthentic or expired supplies that do not correspond to the positive results from PPC use in a clinical setting.

In Europe, LipoDissolve has been popular since 1959 and thousands and thousands of injections have been done. Searches of literature show generally only minor expected adverse reactions.  Presently, over 15,000 medical practitioners provide injections throughout Europe, Great Britain and South America.  It is estimated that there are 500 to 1000 doctors or clinics in the USA doing this therapy.

9) Treatment’s Repetition?
Lipodissolve can only be administered every two weeks to the same area. Weekly treatments are possible if the body parts which are being treated are rotated so that no one body part is treated more frequently than every two weeks. Treatments for fat melting and body contouring using Lipodissolve vary according to the body part being treated and of course the starting point and treatment goal of each individualized patient. Treatments are given in a series of four to five injection sessions per body area being treated spaced two weeks apart. There are limits as to how much of the Phosphatidylcholine can be injected each session. Thus, if a patient requires several areas of treatment for localized fat loss (ie: arms, bra line, abdominal area, hips, thighs, inner knees, chin) not all of the areas can be treated in a single injection session. Routinely, up to four defined body areas can be treated in a single office injection session.
Sometimes, it can take up to six months for the full effect for the PPC injections. However, results usually begin to become apparent within a week or two after treatment. Usually no further treatment is required once sessions are completed. Occasionally some patients may need a touch up every year. If a person follows a proper diet and exercise routine, it has been our experience that the unwanted fat deposits will not return.

10) How can Lipodissolve replace liposuction?
The main reason physicians prefer Lipodissolve to liposuction is patient safety and better long-term results. However, Lipodissolve is not a complete replacement for lipoplasty. Lipodissolve treatment is suitable for small area sculptures or as an option for patients who may be sensitive to invasive procedures. Lipodissolve has several positive aspects worthy to review when compared to Lipoplasty:
 Liposuction can cause permanent damage to fat cells as well as nerve damage. 
 Liposuction can cause infections and bleeding, sometime leading to death. 
 Future weight gain after Liposuction can appear as disproportionate accumulation of fat in areas that were not previously obese.
 Permanent damage from Liposuction can cause structural damage to the mesoderm that appears as cellulite, skin irregularity or waviness of the skin surface. If cellulite was present before having Liposuction, the cellulite can appear much worse due to uneven skin surfaces which appear wavy and lumpy. Mesotherapy can work to correct this known side effect of Liposuction. 
 Liposuction is an actual surgical procedure requiring various forms of anesthesia or conscious sedation through intravenous medications. The use of a surgery center is required and there is recovery time both immediately post-op to recover from the intravenous medications and for several weeks following the surgery.
 The downside with Lipodissolve is mainly that the results are gradual.

11) Can Lipodissolve cause uneven fat loss?
No, this has not been known with proper procedures. Injections are to be done in small distances apart and in small doses per treatment. The time frame between treatments, combined with the small doses per session, provide the physician the opportunity to observe and monitor effects.

12) What should be expected following treatment?
There may be minor pain, throbbing, tenderness and swelling for 2-3 days. Some patients may feel a few bumps (nodules) under the skin which will dissolve within a few weeks. Bruising can also occur which will usually resolve in 1-2 weeks.

13) Can anyone do this treatment?
The Lipodissolve technique using the PPC is not recommended for minors or children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, diabetics with vascular concerns or who are taking Insulin injections, persons with autoimmune diseases, people who have liver disease, persons who are severely obese or anyone with an acute or chronic infection.

14) What is the Ideal product for Lipodissolve?
A product efficient in this type of procedure should be composed of Phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid.