How long do fat dissolving injections last?
the fat removed does not return, but surrounding fat can still grow
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.
- When you see it
- from 4 to 6 weeks after each session
- Downtime
- significant swelling for 3 to 7 days — plan around it
- Sessions
- 2 to 4, six weeks apart
What 'lasting' means here
Fat dissolving works by breaking down the membrane of fat cells so the contents are cleared by the body. Those particular cells do not come back, which makes the result of a completed course effectively permanent in a way no filler is.
What can change is everything around them. The fat cells that remain in the area can still enlarge with weight gain, so a permanent reduction is not the same as a permanent shape.
It is also why this is a contouring treatment for small stubborn pockets and not a weight-loss treatment. Treating an area while gaining weight overall is working against yourself.
What keeps the result
A stable weight. This is the whole of it, and it is worth being blunt rather than encouraging.
Completing the course — two to four sessions six weeks apart — rather than judging it after one.
What works against it
Weight gain after treatment, which enlarges the remaining cells in the area.
Expecting one session to do the work of a course.
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.
Common questions
- How long do fat dissolving injections last?
- the fat removed does not return, but surrounding fat can still grow. 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.
- When will I see the result of fat dissolving injections?
- From 4 to 6 weeks after each session. Judging it before then is judging an incomplete result, which is the most common reason people think a treatment has not worked.
- When should I come back for fat dissolving injections?
- Before it has gone completely rather than after. Treating while some of the result remains needs less product, gives a more predictable outcome and is usually a gentler appointment. If you are unsure, send me a photograph — I would rather tell you to wait.
- Will it come back worse if I stop?
- No. When a treatment wears off you return to your own baseline, not to something worse. What people sometimes notice is that they had become used to the result, so the return to normal registers as a deterioration when it is simply the original.
Get 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.