Lipolysis is one of the methods that has recently attracted great attention not only in our country but also in Europe and the USA. Some people may have resistant fat accumulations in certain areas of their bodies despite not being overweight. Some areas of the human body are more suitable for fat storage. Although it is possible to melt fat in body tissues with a balanced diet and regular exercise, it can be very difficult to get rid of regional weight caused by stubborn fat accumulation. The areas where fat accumulates the most in women are; hips, abdomen, legs, and the fat sides of the waist. In men, fat accumulation occurs mostly in the abdomen and waist area.
In Istanbul and other metropolises, it is possible to remove regional fat from the body without the need for surgery with the lipolysis method, which is one of the most popular regional thinning methods.
What is Lipolysis (Fat Melting)?
Lipolysis is an effective treatment method that allows the removal of regional excesses in the person by natural means and is based on the injection of PPC (phosphatidylcholine) under the skin.
The PPC substance used in the lipolysis method is obtained from soybeans. PPC is a substance found in the human body and also has an important role in fat metabolism. At the same time, PPC is an active substance used in different fields of medicine and shows its effect by dissolving the solid fat in the fat cell called adipocyte. Thus, it turns it into a fluid oil-water solution that is much easier to metabolize, facilitating the breakdown of fat cells and their removal from the body. It increases the permeability and fluidity of the fat cell membrane and makes it easier for lipidic components to leave the cell. The removed and metabolized fats are expelled through the body’s natural lymphatic system. Thanks to the natural expulsion of fats from the body, sagging and loosening problems in the area are minimal.
For What Purposes Is Lipolysis Used?
Lipolysis can be used:
- In deformities due to fat,
- In the treatment of gynecomastia,
- In the treatment of cellulite,
- In the treatment of bags under the eyes,
- In the removal of lipomas and fat around the eyes.
In addition to these, lipolysis method can be used in cases where deformities occur after surgical removal of fat. Lipolysis is a very effective method especially in eliminating the orange peel appearance caused by cellulite. At the same time, lipolysis method can be used in the treatment of fat accumulations in the back area of men.
In Which Areas Is Lipolysis Effective?
Cold Lipolysis method; It can be applied in the removal of fat masses remaining after birth, regional fats in the arms, waist, abdomen, hips, legs and under the chin. It is very important to support the lipolysis method with a balanced nutrition program and exercise. If the necessary sensitivity is shown in this regard, permanent results can be achieved.
How Many Sessions Should Lipolysis Be Applied?
The number of sessions required for lipolysis varies depending on the patient’s age, weight and the amount of fat in the targeted area. Generally, the lipolysis method should be applied to the problematic areas for at least 2 – 4 sessions.
After each lipolysis session, the body automatically resets the fat waste that is naturally dissolved. Accordingly, most patients begin to notice the change in their bodies after the second session of lipolysis. However, if lipolysis sessions are applied too frequently, total fat loss may occur. Since there is a risk of exceeding the desired effect in high-dose applications, it is recommended to apply at 4-6 week intervals, provided that the effect is observed.
Who Is It Not Suitable For?
Lipolysis is definitely not a weight loss method. It is a treatment that can only be used to eliminate regional fat excesses that are resistant to diet and exercise. Therefore, it is not an alternative for people with obesity. In addition, lipolysis cannot be applied to:
- Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding,
- People under the age of 18,
- Cancer patients,
- Diabetics,
- Those with drug allergies,
- Liver or kidney patients,
- Patients with an existing infection.
How is Lipolysis (Fat Melting) Done?
In the lipolysis method, a total of 4 very thin tip syringes of 10 mm – 13 mm are used to inject the PPC substance into the application area where regional fat is present. A cooling spray is used before the injection to minimize the pain for the patient. After the injection of the drug, itching, redness, a slight burning sensation and bruising may be observed. Temporary edema may occur in the area where the application is made after the lipolysis application. Such complaints disappear on their own within approximately 24-48 hours.
After the lipolysis procedure, patients can continue their daily lives without any interruption. Since fats are broken down by the liver in the lipolysis method, alcohol should not be consumed as long as lipolysis sessions are continued. In addition, aspirin and painkillers should be avoided during the treatment period because they suppress the lipolysis process. Again, it is recommended that patients avoid sunbathing and solarium during the treatment period.
In order to obtain the best results from the lipolysis method, the given diet program should be applied without interruption. Walking briskly for at least an hour every day ensures that the fats broken down by the lipolysis session are burned and used as an energy source by the body.
How Does Lipolysis Work?
In the lipolysis method, the aim is to inject the PPC substance into the areas with regional excess fat and to ensure that the fat in the area is melted. The aim of the lipolysis application is to increase the permeability of the fat cell membrane with the injection of PPC and to increase the fat breakdown similar to its natural form due to the destruction of the broken fat cells by the body.
In the lipolysis method, the permeability of the fat cell membrane increases with the injection of PPC into the problematic areas. The liver begins to destroy the broken fat cells. Since the number of fat cells in the area where the lipolysis method is applied is reduced, the fat in certain areas is completely eliminated. With the lipolysis method, fat burning is increased naturally and stubborn fat accumulations in the body are eliminated without causing any loosening of the skin.
In the lipolysis method applied in many of our cities, especially in Istanbul, the melting and removal of fats is actually carried out within the body’s own natural process. When the injections increase the fluidity and permeability of the fat cell membrane, it becomes easier for body fat to exit the cell. A natural metabolic process begins in the fat tissues where the drug is injected, fats are melted and eliminated from the body.
Lipolysis treatment stands out with the slow but deep melting process of fats. With this method, fat cells are brought to normal sizes and a large part of them are destroyed. Once the fat cells are destroyed, they cannot re-form.
What is the Difference Between Cold Lipolysis and Normal Lipolysis?
The cold lipolysis method, which is one of the body shaping methods, works on the basis of freezing and breaking down fat cells in its most general definition. Fat cells are not as resistant to cold and other traumas as other tissues due to their structural properties. Fat cells exposed to cold are eliminated from the body through the lymph and urine circulation as a result of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, within approximately 2 months due to the deterioration of their cell structures. There is no damage to the surrounding tissues in apoptosis.
The area where cold lipolysis will be applied is vacuumed with 2 heads of the device. Fat cells under the skin are targeted and frozen to the point of elimination. To do this, they need to be cooled to -10 degrees for an hour. Fat cells exposed to cold undergo programmed death in a certain order and are eliminated from the body as a result of a metabolic process similar to that of consumed fatty foods. Thus, a more natural and tightened appearance can be achieved.
In lipolysis, the application is carried out by injection, while a special device is used in cold lipolysis. In lipolysis, fat cells are broken down by the effect of the PPC substance and eliminated from the body, while in cold lipolysis, fats are frozen and eliminated from the body by a metabolic process.
What is Enzymatic Lipolysis?
Needle lipolysis is the injection of fat-breaking and tightening enzymes into areas where it is difficult for a person to slim down and where regional fat accumulation is high. In lipolysis for fat accumulation in the hips, inner thighs, arms, armpits, chin, bagel area, and abdominal area, the number of sessions varies between 1-3 sessions depending on the area where it is performed. Immediately after the needle lipolysis procedure, fats are released and ready to be burned. The given diet list and walking program are started on the same day. No further fat accumulation is expected in areas where weight is lost and thinning occurs. The lost weight disappears permanently.
The effectiveness of lipolysis applied to areas such as the abdomen and bagel area, hips, and inner thighs continues for 4-6 weeks and the session interval is 4 weeks. Very effective results are obtained in 1-2 sessions. However, lipolysis applied to the chin area is performed in 1-3 sessions at 2-week intervals.
A special mixture of 40 cc in total is applied to areas such as the abdomen and bagel area, hips, and inner thighs. The content of the applied medicine is completely herbal. Collagenase is used for tightening and l-carnitine is used for fat burning. Visible thinning and weight loss from fat mass occur in a single session. In enzymatic lipolysis, thinning occurs not only in the treated area but also in the entire body.
Since the drug content of lipolysis applied to the chin area is different, 1-3 sessions with 2 weeks intervals are recommended. There are 30 different fat-breaking enzymes in the product content of chin lipolysis. Thanks to the 7 strong fat-breaking enzymes in particular (carnitine, caffeine, disodium EDTA, Bacillus, Soybean ferment extract, Hyaluronidase, Lipase) in it, the fats in the chin begin to break down from the moment it is applied. In addition, a light diet is applied to ensure that the fats disappear more quickly. The person will apply a hand massage to the chin 2 or 3 times a day, and the broken down fats will be removed from the body with the help of the lymph nodes.
What Should Be Done After Lipolysis?
The given diet program must be followed. A brisk walk for at least 1 hour will burn the fats broken down by lipolysis and use them as an energy source.
The second session should be applied within 2 to 4 weeks under the supervision of a doctor, and the effect is seen more quickly after the second session.
No health-threatening side effects are expected after lipolysis. No sagging or deformation is expected in the area where weight is lost. There may be slight pain, bruising and swelling after the application. It passes in a short time. It is never permanent.
Since fat burning will be destroyed by the liver, it is not appropriate for the person to drink alcohol. Excessive heat, sauna, Turkish bath, hot shower and sunbathing should be avoided.
However, it is not recommended to perform any other procedure on the treated area for 15 days.
This application is not applied to those with serious liver diseases. Because the burned fats are expected to be destroyed by the liver. It is not applied to severely obese patients because lipolysis targets regional weight loss. It is also not a suitable application for heart patients, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and cancer patients.
Is Lipolysis a Permanent Procedure?
With the lipolysis method, fat cells in the applied area are completely destroyed, but the remaining fat cells continue to expand. Therefore, it is very important to apply a regular sports and nutrition program after the application. Fat destruction can be maintained with a regular sports and nutrition program.
Is There Any Feeling of Discomfort After the Sessions?
Although lipolysis treatment is a painless and ache-free procedure, some people may experience mild pain in the applied area for a few days. However, this is a tolerable level of pain.
Since no surgical intervention is required in the cold lipolysis method, the patient can quickly return to their daily lives. Bruising, numbness and redness that disappears may be seen in the applied area for a few days. Although very rare, a decrease in sensation or complete loss may occur. This situation resolves itself within 1-8 weeks.
