The treatment most appropriately called "injection lipolysis" is often associated with the term "mesotherapy" to reduce or eliminate unwanted localized fat deposits. Various treatment terms that claim to "dissolve" fat seem to be used interchangeably, although "mesotherapy" has gained prominence in the public vernacular.
Injectable lipolysis is usually performed using the product or proprietary formulations available at compounding pharmacies. A common ingredient in all injectable lipolytic preparations is phosphatidylcholine (PPC).
The bile component, sodium deoxycholate (DC), is the second major component used to keep PPC in a soluble and injectable form without precipitating out of solution.
Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) and sodium deoxycholate (DC) are both phospholipids, emulsifiers and surfactants. PPC is the most abundant phospholipid component in cell membranes, a precursor of acetylcholine, and a component of lipoproteins. DC is a component of bile. Both of these substances are naturally present in the human body.
Injected lipolytic therapy is delivered into subcutaneous fat compared to injection into mesoderm. In both cases, injection depth is critical to prevent damage to the fascia. Presumably, treatment with PPC and DC could reduce subcutaneous fat through adipocyte necrosis due to direct toxicity or surfactant effects.
Proprietary formulations of PPC/DC and other drugs have been produced by compounding pharmacies, but such formulations lack standardization in terms of good manufacturing practices and sterility.
Injections are given to reduce fat deposits, but the agency has so far not exercised enforcement powers to limit the use of compound PPC/DC
