Fat Reduction with Injections???

Fat Reduction With Injections?

What if you can melt away the double chins, love handles, upper thighs saddle bags, flabby arms, lower tummy pouch, or back fat pads with localized injections?  This procedure is called mesotherapy.  Mesotherapy is a general term for both cellulite reduction and spot fat reduction.  This procedure has been in existence since the 1950’s in France.  There are many formulations that have been injected but most of these “cocktails” are not safe. 

There may be one formulation that is safe and effective.  This formulation is called ATX-101.  It is a synthetically derived form of sodium deoxycholate (deoxycholic acid).  ATX-101 causes rupture of the fat cells, which your body naturally reabsorbs, similar to the way blood is removed within a bruise.  Fat cells that are dissolved by the process are permanently loss. 

ATX-101 produced by Kythera Biopharmaceuticals is currently undergoing rigorous FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) studies for approval.  The studies involve injections of the deoxycholic acid into the submental fat (fat under your chin).  These are microinjections spaced several weeks apart.  The results are promising with significant improvement in fat reduction in the submental area (double chins).  The side effects are mild to moderate and most importantly, transient.  Patients have reported temporary bruising, numbness, pain, swelling and redness.  The symptoms did not last long and did not bother the patients.

Current methods to remove fat include surgery, liposuction and certain lasers.  These methods can be costly with associated surgical risks.  Hopefully ATX-101 will be approved by the FDA and available on the market soon.  We may be able to see fat just melt away from these difficult to treat areas under our chin, love handles, tummy pouch, saddle bags, and muffin tops.