Fat Dissolving Injections in Rossendale
Injectable treatment for small, localised pockets of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise.
In short
Fat dissolving injections break down small, stubborn pockets of fat that do not respond to diet or exercise; it takes two to four sessions six weeks apart, and it is not a weight-loss treatment.
- How long it lasts
- the fat removed does not return, but surrounding fat can still grow
- When you see it
- from 4 to 6 weeks after each session
- Downtime
- significant swelling for 3 to 7 days — plan around it
- Does it hurt
- stinging during, then a deep ache and tenderness for a few days
- Sessions
- 2 to 4, six weeks apart
Fat dissolving injections break down small, defined pockets of fat — most commonly under the chin. They are for contouring a specific area, not for weight loss, and they work best on someone already at a stable weight who has a localised deposit that will not shift.
Who it suits
A stable weight, good skin elasticity, and a small defined pocket of fat. Where skin laxity is contributing to the appearance, removing the fat underneath can make it look worse rather than better — which is a conversation worth having before you book.
Every treatment begins with a full-face assessment and an honest conversation. If I do not think a treatment is clinically indicated or right for you, I will say so and explain why — including when the answer is to do nothing.
A closer look
Three contributors to the under-chin contour
Submental tissue
Fullness under the chin can include fat.
Skin
Loose skin changes the outline independently of the amount of fat.
Chin shape
The position and projection of the chin affect how the neck meets the face.
Conceptual landmarks, not a diagnostic test. These factors may coexist and call for different approaches.
What to expect
Significant swelling for several days after treatment is expected and normal — the area will look worse before it looks better. Two to four sessions spaced four to six weeks apart is typical.
You will be given written aftercare before you leave, and a direct number to reach me on if anything concerns you afterwards. Reviews are offered at two weeks so we can assess the result together and adjust if needed.
What the whole course involves, start to finish
| Stage | What happens | When |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Whether the problem is actually fat — as opposed to skin laxity or a recessed chin, which this does not help | Before anything is booked |
| Session | A grid of small injections across the area | 20–30 minutes |
| Straight afterwards | Significant swelling, firmness and tenderness. This is the treatment working, not a complication | Day 0–4 |
| Settling | Swelling reduces; the area may stay firm and tender to touch | 1–3 weeks |
| Between sessions | The body clears the disrupted cells through the lymphatic system | 6–8 weeks |
| The rest of the course | Each session addresses a proportion of what is present | 2–4 sessions typically |
| The result | Judged at the end of the course, not midway — midway you are judging swelling | 6–8 weeks after the last session |
The cells cleared do not come back, so what you build is durable. The cells that remain can still enlarge if weight increases, which is the honest caveat and the reason this is not a substitute for anything.
How the plan is decided
First, whether fat is really the problem
Three different things produce the same complaint, and only one of them responds to this. Pinchable fat present at any weight is the one that does. Skin that no longer springs back is laxity, and removing volume from beneath loose skin can leave it looser. A chin that sits behind the lower lip in profile is a projection problem, and no amount of fat reduction addresses it.
That assessment takes about ten seconds in profile, and skipping it is how people pay for a course that was never going to work.
How many sessions, and why it is staged
Each session addresses a proportion of what is present, and the tissue needs six to eight weeks to clear and settle before the next. Doing more in one sitting does not speed anything up; it increases the swelling without increasing the result.
The number needed is assessed as you go rather than sold as a package up front, because how much clears per session varies more between people than any protocol admits.
What it is not
This is a treatment for a discrete, stubborn pocket in someone at a stable weight. It is not a weight-loss treatment, it is not a substitute for one, and anybody offering it as either is not assessing you.
Sources and further reading
- NHS — Dermal fillers
- British Association of Dermatologists — patient information
- Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners
- Aesthetic Complications Expert Group
This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Every treatment needs an individual assessment, and what is right for someone else may not be right for you.
Results
Fat Dissolving Injections — Ashleigh’s patients
Individual results vary. Shared with patient consent.
Common questions
Fat Dissolving Injections — what people ask
- Is this a weight loss treatment?
- No. It treats small localised deposits in someone at a stable weight. It is a contouring treatment, not a weight management one.
- How much swelling should I expect?
- A lot, and that is the treatment working. Under the chin it can be marked for several days. Plan around it — do not book before an event.
- Are the results permanent?
- Fat cells that are broken down do not return, but remaining cells can enlarge with weight gain. Maintaining a stable weight maintains the result.
- Are fat dissolving injections safe?
- In a small, well-chosen area, from someone who knows the anatomy, yes — with the caveat that the expected reaction is far stronger than most treatments and you should be told that before booking. The risks are injecting at the wrong depth, and treating someone whose problem is loose skin rather than fat, which can make the area look worse rather than better.
- Can I have fat dissolving injections while pregnant or breastfeeding?
- No. Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Travelling to Charis
The clinic is in Stacksteads, Bacup, with patients travelling in for fat dissolving injections from Rawtenstall, Haslingden, Ramsbottom, Burnley, Rochdale, Bury, Accrington and across the Rossendale valley.
Areas we coverGet in touch
Book a consultation
Consultations are £30, and that comes off the cost of your treatment if you go ahead. No pressure to book anything on the day — if you are not sure whether you want treatment at all, that is still a good reason to come and talk.