While dedication to exercise may help to melt fat away from certain parts of the body, other areas – such as under the chin – can be more stubborn. As a result, the demand for fat-dissolving injections in Australian clinics has increased dramatically.
“Fat-dissolving injections are an injectable drug that work by destroying the fat cells in the treated area,” says Doctor Vivek Eranki of Cosmetique Cosmetic Surgery Clinic. “These fat cells that are destroyed cannot return or regrow. The treatment is very effective in reducing the fat under the chin and help redefine your jawline, effectively eliminating your double chin without surgery.”
Fat under the chin is influenced by several factors including ageing, genetics, weight gain and diet. “Treating a double chin with fat dissolving injections doesn’t require preparation prior to the procedure,” says Doctor Eranki.
The injections contain deoxycholic acid, a Schedule 4 drug, which has been approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Association for sub-mental contouring. The product is injected into the fat, and permanently destroys the fat cells by a process known as adipocytolysis. Once the fat cells are destroyed, they cannot store fat again, making the results permanent.
“Following an assessment of the patient, the fat pocket is mapped out. We then apply a nerve block to ensure a painless procedure. The procedure only takes around ten to fifteen minutes in total,” says Doctor Eranki.
Patients undergoing fat dissolving injections in the chin normally feel a sense of swelling and warmth in the area immediately afterwards. By day one to three, the swelling usually starts to go down. By day seven, the chin area may feel slightly hard. By week six, the fat pad starts to reduce in size.
The injections should always be administered under the guidance of a highly skilled cosmetic surgeon.
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