If dimpled thighs, excess fat around waist line or a few stubborn pounds around your hips are holding you back from looking your best, you may not have to settle for surgery just yet. Chemical liposuction was one of several fat removal treatments presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting in 2006, and is still undergoing several clinical trials and tests to determine whether this non-surgical procedure can really help melt away those excess fat cells. It may be an alternative to surgical liposuction and other cellulite and fat removal procedures that often come with several side effects.

How Chemical Liposuction Works

Chemical liposuction is a unique method for breaking down fatty tissue, and involves injecting the skin with collagenase enzymes that help break down collagen fibers in the body. While many cosmetic procedures for the face encourage boosting collagen levels and promoting healthy fat cell production, treatments for the body that involve body sculpting and toning require removal of this natural substance.   

Collagenase helps break down fibrous tissue and dissolve the fat cells; the body can then remove the excess waste through the pores and elimination system. After the treatment is complete, a patient can expect to see noticeably smoother, softer and toned skin.  

Chemical Liposuction vs. Other Non-Surgical Cellulite Reduction Treatments  

Since the injections from the chemical liposuction treatment help break down the body’s tissues completely, they may prove to be a better choice than massage or body wraps that attempt to treat cellulite.

Many of today’s non-surgical cellulite reduction treatments make use of heat wave therapy, vigorous massage techniques and even hydrotherapy to increase circulation throughout the body’s tissues and encourage the breakdown of stored fat cells. While some of these can improve the appearance of the skin temporarily, few of them can actually reach deep within the skin’s layers to remove fatty deposits completely. Chemical liposuction offers one alternative to many of today’s popular non-surgical solutions such as Synergie cellulite treatments or even body wraps at the spa.  

Chemical Liposuction:  The Trials and Tests  

Alexander Dagum, MD, a Member Surgeon of the ASPS and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Stony Brook University Medical Center led many of the initial clinical trials to report how a simple collagenese enzyme injection could help break down fatty tissue and make a noticeable difference in the appearance of the skin. His experiment included 10 female patients who received the collagenase injections in their thighs and were then monitored for a period of six months. Industry press releases report that patients reported a 77 percent decrease in the appearance of cellulite after just 24 hours, and were able to maintain a 76 percent decrease for six months after the initial treatment (Source: LA Times - Cosmetic Surgery).  

Other Options for Cellulite Reduction  

Collagenese enzyme injections are just one of several injectable options to get rid of cellulite and fat cells available today.  Other popular treatments that promise to break down fatty tissue and leave the skin toned and healthy include:  

Mesotherapy – injections made with herbal ingredients, vitamins and minerals for a more ‘natural’ approach to fat reduction

LipoDissolve – a treatment that promotes fat lipolysis with a series of microinjections. These injections reach the subcutaneous fat layer and can help treat the thights, upper and lower abdomen, saddlebags and even improve the appearance of stretch marks.

Smart Lipo – instead of using injections to treat fatty deposits, Smart Lipo makes use of an innovative laser that projects a high-intensity beam onto the fatty tissues and breaks it down over a short period of time. Doctors who perform SmartLipo claim that it is a quicker and more cost-effective method for fat removal than conventional liposuction.  

Learn more about cellulite reduction and fat removal treatments in our information guide, or consult with a cosmetic surgeon in your area for the latest treatment options.