Fat Dissolving Injections for Belly and Arms: The Facts

Do fat dissolving injections work on the stomach?

There are small studies of fat dissolving injections on the belly, but the evidence is limited and there is no standard method. [1][4]

In this article, meso fat and fat dissolving injections mean the same thing: injecting a substance under the skin so that fat cells in that spot break down. [2] A 2018 review said the substances used are used off-label around the world, and there is no standard for amount, technique or treatment plan. [1]

The one study that looked at the belly directly was a pilot of 14 patients. It was not randomized and had no control group. It measured lower-belly fat thickness with calipers, ultrasound and 3D scans, and found the thickness went down. [4] The authors concluded that, weighing cost against benefit, the injections should probably be kept for small pockets of fat. [4]

So the studies available cannot say that fat dissolving injections work for everyone, or for every kind of belly. [1][4]

Fat dissolving injections on the arms and flanks: what studies exist

There are studies on the belly, the upper arms and the flanks (love handles), but every study we read has limits in sample size or design. [1][4][5][6]

A 2018 review pooled the past results of 1,269 patients over 14 years. In its table, 301 patients were treated on the belly and 169 on the upper arms. [1]

The review's summary says results stood out on the face and arms. But in its satisfaction table, 107 of 287 women treated on the belly and 21 of 167 treated on the upper arms rated the result above 5 out of 10. [1] The two parts do not fully match, so read the arm results with care. [1]

Fat under the skin vs. fat inside the abdomen

A belly has two layers of fat: the fat under the skin, and visceral fat, which sits deeper inside the abdomen. [8]

All three fat dissolving injection studies we read, on the belly, arms and flanks, measured fat thickness at the injected area or waist size. None of them measured fat inside the abdomen. [4][5][6]

The 2018 review also says fat dissolving injections are not a treatment for obesity. [1] If your belly is large, ask a doctor to assess which type of fat makes up most of it before you decide.

Fat dissolving injections vs. liposuction vs. weight loss

Fat dissolving injections are an add-on for small pockets of fat. Liposuction is the standard method for fat under the skin. Neither is a weight-loss method. [1]

The authors of the 2018 review call liposuction the gold standard for reducing fat under the skin. Fat dissolving injections can be used alongside it, but they do not replace liposuction surgery, and they suit small amounts of excess fat that can be pinched and are even in texture. [1]

If the goal is weight loss or less fat inside the abdomen, Harvard Health recommends aerobic and resistance exercise, choosing complex carbohydrates and high-fiber foods over sweets, getting enough sleep and managing stress. [8] Thai FDA (อย.) also says exercise and a controlled diet are the safe ways to lose weight. [3]

Who fat dissolving injections do not suit

This method suits small amounts of excess fat that can be pinched and are even in texture. It does not suit people hoping to lose weight. [1]

The 2018 review treated patients aged 18 to 55 and lists the groups who should not have it, or need care, below. [1] This is the rule set from one study only. A doctor may add more rules based on your health history.

• Allergy to eggs or soy [1]
• An infection or skin problem where the injection would go [1]
• Taking blood-thinning medicine [1]
• A weak immune system [1]
• A hormone imbalance, such as an underactive thyroid or polycystic ovaries [1]
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding [1]
• Unrealistic expectations, which this study counted as a relative contraindication [1]

Risks and what people notice after injection

Local effects such as swelling, bruising, redness and pain are common after injection, and more serious problems have been reported too. [1][4][5]

In the pilot study on the lower belly, the main local side effects were swelling in 94.4% of patients, bruising in 90.7% and redness in 79.6%. All went away on their own. On average, swelling lasted 9.6 days, bruising 7 days and redness 2 days. [4]

In the flank study, 68 adverse events at the injection site were recorded: bruising in 38.2%, pain in 30.8%, swelling in 14.7% and itching in 11.8%. One participant had superficial tissue death, which the authors believed came from accidentally using a needle shorter than standard. [5]

The 2018 review reported lumps under the skin in more than half of patients, which cleared within 3 to 4 weeks. Swelling lasted 24 to 48 hours, and 15 patients were injected into muscle by mistake and had severe pain. [1] If anything unusual happens after an injection, see a doctor. [2][3]

Are fat dissolving injections registered with the Thai FDA?

Thai FDA (อย.) said on 7 June 2018 that it had never registered a fat dissolving injection product, and that the person who injects must be a doctor. [3]

In the same statement, Thai FDA (อย.) said some drugs used abroad are not approved for injection, that unclean injections can cause bacterial or fungal infection, and that dozens to hundreds of injection points can leave the skin lumpy. [3]

The Medical Council of Thailand calls this technique mesotherapy. In January 2016 it warned that targeted fat dissolving injections had no approved standard and that little academic work supports them. [9] The US FDA (page last updated 20 December 2023) says there is only one approved fat dissolving injection, for fat under the chin in adults, and that it is not approved for any other part of the body. [2]

The US FDA reports that unapproved products have caused permanent scarring, severe infection, skin deformity, cysts and deep painful lumps, and warns people not to buy substances to inject themselves. [2] This article is general information and does not confirm the registration status of any product in the shop. Ask the seller for Thai registration documents, and have a doctor check them before every use.

Questions to ask your doctor before you decide

Ask exactly what kind of fat you are worried about, whether the product has a Thai registration number, and what other options there are.

The person who injects must be a doctor. Never buy a substance to inject yourself. [2][3]

• Is my fat a small pocket under the skin that I can pinch, or is it a belly that also has fat inside the abdomen?
• Does the product you plan to use have Thai registration documents, and can I see them?
• What about my health history, such as allergies, medicines and pregnancy? Is anything a reason it does not suit me?
• Would other options, such as liposuction or changes to diet and exercise, suit me better?
• If I get a lump, a wound or anything unusual after the injection, who do I contact?