‘Fat Dissolving’ Injections Are Unsafe, Can Cause Scarring, Infections and Skin Deformities, Says FDA

Mar. 15, 2025

Woman’s having lipolysis treatment at beauty salon.Photo:Getty

Getty

The FDA  is warning against unapproved “fat dissolving” injections.

On Wednesday, theFood and Drug Administrationsaid it had received reports of people suffering from side effects after using unauthorized treatments.

The side effects included severe infections, skin deformities and persistent scarring.

“FDA has received reports about consumers who experienced adverse reactions such as permanent scars, serious infections, skin deformities, cysts, and deep, painful knots after receivingunapprovedfat-dissolving injections,” the FDA wrote on their website.

They added that some consumers had received the injections via clinics or med spas, while others had purchased the “fat-dissolving drugs online and injected the drugs themselves.”

Health professional administering an injection.Getty

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Sold under the names Aqualyx, Lipodissolve, Lipo Lab and Kabelline, the injections are used toreduce fatin thighs, upper arms, stomach and chin.

The “patient might not know what they’re injecting into,” Dr. Dan Maselli said perNBC News. “They might think it’s fat tissue.”

“It could be a muscle tissue,” he added. “ It could be your blood vessel, or it could be around a nerve.”

source: people.com