Fat Dissolving (Aqualyx)

Yes, once the fat cells are destroyed, they do not grow back. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential.

The active ingredient is deoxycholic acid (sometimes called sodium deoxycholate) — a synthetic version of a naturally occurring bile acid that emulsifies and breaks down fat-cell membranes. When injected directly into a pocket of unwanted subcutaneous fat, the molecule destroys the fat cells in that pocket. The cellular debris is then gradually cleared by the body's lymphatic system over 4–6 weeks. The destroyed fat cells are permanently removed — but the result is local sculpting, not systemic weight loss.

Both contain deoxycholic acid and work by the same mechanism. The practical difference is regulatory: Aqualyx is CE-marked in the EU and UK (manufactured by Marllor Biomedical, Italy); Kybella is FDA-approved in the United States (manufactured by Allergan/AbbVie) and is the product name used there for the under-chin (submental) indication. In the UK, Aqualyx is the standard product used. Kybella is not available in the UK market. Practical patient experience and clinical results are broadly similar.

Fat-dissolving works on LOCALISED pockets of subcutaneous fat — the layer immediately under the skin. Common areas: under the chin (submental fat / double chin), jowls, bra-fat region, flanks (love handles), abdomen, inner and outer thighs, inner knees. It does NOT treat visceral fat (the deeper fat around internal organs), large-volume body fat suitable for liposuction, or distributed body fat as part of weight loss. Patients should be at or near a stable target weight before considering fat-dissolving treatment.

Most patients need 2–4 sessions per treated area, spaced 6–8 weeks apart to allow swelling to fully resolve and to assess response between sessions. Smaller areas (chin, jowls) often respond in 2 sessions; larger areas (abdomen, thighs) typically need 3–4 sessions. The volume of dissolving product used per session also varies by area and goal. Your practitioner will give you a realistic estimate at consultation including the per-session cost so you can plan financially.

Different mechanisms, similar end goal. Fat-dissolving destroys fat cells chemically via injection; CoolSculpting destroys them through controlled cooling using an applicator on the skin surface (no needles). Per-session results vary by individual response in both cases. Trade-offs: cryolipolysis has zero injection trauma but uses applicator-defined treatment shapes that may not match all body curves; fat-dissolving has more flexibility in treatment-area shape but more swelling, tenderness, and per-session inflammation. INNODERM does not currently offer cryolipolysis; we use Aqualyx for localised fat dissolution and BodyTite/Morpheus8 Body for combined fat + skin treatments.

Expect significant swelling, redness, firmness, and tenderness at the injection sites — typically peaking at 24–72 hours and resolving over 7–14 days. Some patients have a warm or burning sensation in the first few hours after injection as the product activates. Bruising at injection sites is common. Most patients return to work the next day for discrete-area treatments (chin), though larger fields may benefit from a day off. Gentle walking is encouraged to support lymphatic drainage; intense exercise is paused for one week. The aftercare list on this page reflects this.

Some change is typically visible within 4–6 weeks of the first session as swelling subsides and the body clears the destroyed fat. However, the visible improvement after one session is usually modest — significant contouring requires the full course of 2–4 sessions. We are honest that single-session expectations should be calibrated: this is a course-based treatment with cumulative results, not a one-shot intervention. Most patients see substantial visible improvement after the second or third session.

Yes — and this is often the smarter staged plan when both fat AND overlying skin laxity are concerns. Fat-dissolving treats the fat layer; skin laxity that becomes more visible AFTER fat reduction is treated separately with RF microneedling (Morpheus8 Body), non-invasive RF (Evolve X Tite), or — for more dramatic cases — minimally invasive BodyTite. The recommended sequence is typically: address fat first with Aqualyx, then re-assess after the body has finished clearing the dissolved fat (around 8–12 weeks post-final session), then plan skin tightening if still needed. Sequencing matters and is designed during consultation.