Growing Lipodissolve popularity cause concerns: "Plastic surgeons need to view Lipodissolve as a complement to their practice, not a threat"

NEW YORK (August 18, 2007): Lipodissolve has been hailed as the most promising discovery in cosmetic medicine since Botox®. The treatment was initially discovered when scientists developed cardiac diagnostic equipment, and diagnostics were performed where phosphatidylcholine was tested to combat arterial plaque in combination with EDTA trials. The question with ASAL founders became, 'if the benevolent soy based choline (PC) could reduce arterial plaque, why not body fat?'

In recent years, the growing demand from patients seeking Lipodissolve treatment has encouraged physicians to seek training to add this treatment to their practice. An estimated 70% of physicians attending ASNA training on Lipodissolve in 2007 claim to have a high patient demand and “regular and persistent inquiries from patients”. Within the aesthetic medicine industry, it has been noted that not since the first introduction of breast implants has a new cosmetic treatment gained such wide interest by sheer reputation and curiosity alone.

“Lipodissolve is a very mild treatment with minor known side-effects,” say Dr Khalid Mahmud, a former consultant with the FDA. “That is the main curiosity with this treatment that makes it so attractive, and our patients love the procedure." "There are so many greater risks known in popular cosmetic treatments. Although all medical treatments are associated with some form of risk factors that cannot be outruled, including with Lipodissolve, the treatment has shown promising safety records from clinical use. The candidate need be adequately assessed and all contraindications ruled out. Physicians would not be using this treatment on our patients if our observations and medical knowledge convinced us of high risks.”

The treatment, when performed accurately by a certified physician, gives surprisingly good cosmetic results without the need of high risk aggressive procedures. The treatment is modest in clinical and patient costs. In more than an estimated 50,000 and 100,000 treatments being performed in the USA and Europe, no adverse or life-threatening reactions have been reported aside from the common mild and known side-effects. The primary substance in the compound used in Lipodissolve occurs naturally in all living things and is widely used around the world as an ingredient in other medical products either as an active agent or as a means by which to transport other active ingredients through the body. It is presumed that phosphatidylcholine penetrates the wall of the fat cell and acts as an emulsifying agent thereby making fats water soluble and allowing them to be carried to the liver and eliminated.

(above): liposuction patient before and after surgery.
(below): Lipodissolve patient from one of our physician members before and after treatment. Results show treatment with injections alternated with aftercare.

There are hundreds of studies on the safety, risks and toxicity of phosphatidylcholine and its positive overall effect on the body. The interest of safety is always important and long-term studies is eventually required. It is suprising, however, that Lipodissolve has received more opposition than high-risk procedures or products considering its promising potential to offer a nonsurgical option to patients who are not able, or willing, to undergo surgery for smaller fat deposits. For example, more fatalities have been reported from the consumption of Red Bull energy drinks (available for purchase by anyone without restrictions) than from Lipodissolve treatments where no fatalities or serious, life-threatening side-effects have been reported to date. Of all cosmetic treatments on the market, liposuction has one of the highest risks and death is one of the potential risks. Yet liposuction is freely advertised and promoted as safe. The largest opposition to Lipodissolve procedures have been plastic surgeons. The common argument is that "there exist no studies" on the medications or that the treatment is "scientifically unproven and lacks any objective data on safety and efficacy."
Meanwhile, some who perform Lipodissolve say plastic surgeons are opposed to the procedure because it can be performed by nonsurgeons which means lost revenue and unwanted competition.

Dr Thomas Wright provides Lipodissolve on a patient for the St Louis News 4 channel

Several clinical studies on Lipodissolve have been published within the past three years proving promising results. And Dr. Young, from Barnes-Jewish West County and Body Aesthetics is awaiting FDA approval to run an investigational study on the chemicals used in Lipodissolve. “The people who are causing a fuss are the plastic surgeons, because it interferes with their business,” says Dr. Raphael Nach, a Beverly Hills–based head and neck surgeon who has performed the treatment to reduce fatty areas under the eyes.

But the surgeons fire back saying that the procedure, which they say seems to work best in smaller to medium sized areas, is not likely to replace liposuction. In truth, Lipodissolve is a complement to a surgeons practice rather than any form of competition or replacement. “Lipodissolve is the only treatment I have come across that can aid in solving post-surgical deformities common after liposuction,” says Barry Lycka, dermatologic and cosmetic surgeon. Plastic surgeons that have embraced the procedure have various benefits from adding Lipodissolve to their practice:

1) Surgeons can provide an optional treatment for patients who are unable or unwilling to be having surgery. Plastic surgeons that offer Lipodissolve in addition to their normal medical procedures have a reported 10-20% increase in additional revenues from new patients.

2) With Lipodissolve, plastic surgeons have an inexpensive option to treat post-surgical deformities that are common effects from liposuction. Some surgeons state that Lipodissolve offers the best and cheapest post-surgical treatment for liposuction patients.

3) The low clinical costs and positive profit margin with Lipodissolve is another benefit: with Lipodissolve use there is no need to hire or book surgical wards on an hourly basis, employ anesthesiologists, purchase expensive medical equipment, or invest money in expensive medications, etc.

“Lipodissolve is one of those rare, new treatments that truly has enormous potential to grow into something that will be used in every cosmetic clinic around the country, perhaps even the world in the future ”, says Dr Charles Crutchfield III, voted one of Americas “Top doctors”. “Both my clinical staff and patients love this treatment and are very pleased with the cosmetic results and the simplicity of the treatment process. Over 90% of my patients are very pleased with their results from Lipodissolve, and that is a huge number compared with many known and popular cosmetic treatments out there today”.

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