Lipodissolve was NOT worth it: Lipodissolve no results

Bad experience with thigh injections to "dissolve" fat:

A few years ago, I had one treatment involving injections (about 5 on outside of each thigh) into both thighs for the purpose of dissolving and removing fat. The pain was awful and got even worse over the next few days. I did not go back for more.....I'm not one who enjoys extensive pain. There was aching for months and some small nodules developed in the tissue. Maybe this works better in other areas of the body. I would not recommend this for thighs unless you love pain!

Hi, I'm a newspaper reporter looking to interview people who have had lipo dissolve. If you are interested in sharing your experience, please e-mail me {edited}. Thanks.

Editor note: removed email address. reporter has stated they have received adequate response for their story

I wrote a month ago about how I would say that this procedure seemed to be working after 5 treatments.
I want to retract that statement.
I have now had 7 treatments and to be honest my "pouch" looks smaller but in fact I have not lost any inches.
At the last treatment they took new pictures and measurements.
My husband and I both still measure the same as the day we started.
Today we go in for a consultation with the administration about the "satisfaction guarantee" that was once a part of their advertisement.
I have spent most of the morning looking for that same statement in their present advertisement.
Guess what?!
They no longer advertise "satisfaction guarantee".
In my research today I discovered that this procedure is not FDA approved.
Do any of us really know what they are injecting in our bodies?
Has anyone every met the elusive "doctor" that is suppose to be supervising their treatment at fig/lipodissolve?
Wish me luck on getting my refund but somehow I don't think it will be an easy or painless process but then neither has the treatments!!!!!!

I have had good results with my lower abs but have not seen much improvement in
my inner thighs. It is painful with swelling and bruising but after giving birth
to 3 children its bearable! I would recommend it for the abs but not the thighs!
I do have 3 more treatments to go so hopefully I will get the results I want.

I'm wondering if anyone else can comment about their experience with lower level abdominal lipodissolve. I had my first series of injections four weeks ago. I'm guessing the doctor probably gave me a dozen or so injections on each side of my belly. The evening was tough, swelling, pain, etc., but what I want to know is how long you stayed sore. I still feel like my skin is sore, similar to how a sunburn feels. I am wondering if it is effected by stretch marks, past surgical scars, etc. Any one else still feel tenderness or pain after four weeks?

Thank you for your lipodissolve comment. We moved it to the Lipodissolve Discussion Board so others can share their thoughts. Thank you

Tom, RealSelf

I had the process done five days ago . I'm not really sore except in spots. I did however experience swelling in the vaginal area. Did anyone else experience this and how long did it last? 

I am a former Lipodissolve nurse, and can answer a few questions.

First, the procedure really does work! I had every area possible treated, and I got real results. I also saw real results with the patients; in fact, we had very few patients who did not come back to have other areas treated. Usually, results are seen in about four treatments, and it takes six or seven treatments for the full effect (maybe a few more...it varies from person to person). With that said, there are a small number of people (about 3%) who simply don't respond to treatment, just as with any medication. Another key aspect of getting results is compliance....don't take anti-inflammatory medications after treatments, don't put on any additional weight, etc. There is also swelling afterward that lasts about two to three days.

Another thing about results....the treatments will work if you are heavier, but the heavier you are, the less effective the treatments are. That's because basically you have the same amount of medication that has to treat a larger amount of fat. As far as the guarantee goes, I know that some places only gaurantee results if your BMI is 28 or under, so they can't advertise universally that they have a money back guarantee.

I'm not going to lie to you...the treatments aren't painless, but individual discomfort varies. Some people say they felt only minor discomfort and needed no kind of pain intervention, while others reported higher levels of discomfort. The vast majority of patients felt that their discomfort was controlled by just taking Tylenol. (It helps a LOT to take Tylenol before the treatment.) I have a friend who works for Fig and she tells me that their new cold laser (which they use in conjunction with the shots) helps control pain and also improves results. I don't know the science behind it, so I can't explain why. It's just what I've heard.

As far as FDA approval goes, the substance used in lipodissolve doesn't require FDA approval, but clinics do require approval and licensure from the state medical board. In fact, the FDA has not yet found any reason to review and approve PCDC (the substance), so approval isn't even an option anyway. To put that in perspective, Botox is only FDA approved for use between the eyebrows, yet people use it all over their faces. And, if you have ever taken a medication for a reason other than its labeled use (an example would be certain medications whose approved use is for treating depression, but which are also used to treat premature ejaculation in men), then you are actually taking the medication without FDA approval. So, lack of FDA approval is not necessarily a red flag, especially when it isn't even an available option.

PCDC is a soy-based enzyme. The "PC" part has been used in Europe for YEARS to remove plaque from artery walls. The "DC" part is really bile salts, which occur naturally in your body anyway. I would caution you to be less concerned about all of that and more concerned about your provider's technique and how the PCDC is compounded and stored. Make sure the PCDC is sterile, and that the administration technique is sterile as well.

Finally, there are side effects, and they are rarely anything other than minor and annoying. The vast majority of people have only the expected side effects, and I can assure you that so far nobody has ever died from lipodissolve. The side effects should have been listed on the informed consent that you signed, and the clinic should have reviewed that with you. If you experience anything beyond the expected, you should contact the clinic. A good clinic will have someone available 24/7 to assist you if necessary.

Again, this procedure works and works WELL for the vast majority of folks. I really loved working as a lipodissolve nurse because I saw how it changed peoples' lives, and I would not have worked there had it not worked. Unfortunately, family commitments required that I move out of state, and I now live in a rural area with no lipodissolve clinic in the area.

Someone said 12 shots on each side of their belly, I got 74 injections using 36cc of the med. The Injections were not painful but I did experience soreness for around 16 hours and as commented diarrhea only two bowl movements similar to Samonila poising. A little discomfort and roll of toilet paper is it worth it depends on the results. I have 1 more session using another 48cc for my love handles. My doctor wrapping the area to keep from giggling I am using a back brace as loose as possible and it remove the discomfort when walking.

I'd like to speak with some people who used lipo-dissolve or any other mesotherapy treatment to remove fat. If you're interested in being interviewed for US News and World Report about your experience, please email me at dkotz@usnews.com
Thanks!

I have had 3 Lipodissolve treatments on my upper abdomen since mid-March and am satisfied with the results so far. I so agree with NurseL89 that COMPLIANCE is important. My second treatment was the most painful but I had forgotten to take Tylenol prior to the shots and had used Aleve in the days before the treatment. I did experience some 'migration' of the fliud to my groin area after all 3 treatments but that quickly dissapated. My third treatment was 10 days ago and I am still slightly swollen and my abdomen is still very tender to the touch but I can see that my abdomen does not protrude as much as it did before the treatment. My doctor, a respected dermatologist in Illinois, recommends 6 treatments per area done 2 or more weeks apart.

Response to all others considering Lipodissolve: don't do it. The post by NurseL89 is the same lines fed to me and my friend during our free consultation where we signed up for Lipodissolve. The only difference is she didn't state that it only took 2 treatments to see results which is what we (and many other people) were falsely told. Please be very careful before you do this treatment and read all information out there. The pain is generally much greater than advertised (no matter how much Tylenol you take), you could have severe allergic reactions, and you most likely will have no results but instead will have weight gain. Understand that if it doesn't work (just as it doesn't for the majority of people) and you try to get a refund, you will be stuck battling it out for 90 business days (even if you were told 60 days, they have now changed it to 90 full business days if you are lucky) that guaranteed refund and depsite it being 100% guaranteed, you will have a lot of out-of-pocket cost and never be refunded for everything you pay. If you don't believe me that this doesn't work, consider that the last time my friend called the LD headquarters in St Louis she was told it was 90 business days to get the refund because they are so overwhelmed with refund requests. IF ONLY 3% OF PEOPLE DON'T RESPOND, HOW COME LD IS OVERWHELMED WITH REFUND REQUESTS??????

THE ONLY GUARANTEED WAY TO LOSE INCHES IS TO CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR, DIET, AND EXERCISE. Don't fall for LD.

I HAD MESOTHERAPY WHICH IS ALMOST THE SAME AS LIPODISSOLVE"TRUST ME IT DOESN'T WORK UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE" I HAD ABOUT 15 TREATMENTS DONE I STILL LOOK THE SAME.

I agree with "X"- I have had 2 procedures to my handles and 3 to my abdomen and I am loving my results. I did not go into this as a weight loss program but to sculpt what I had and it is meeting my expectations. My BMI is where it should be so I do not need to lose weight. During my consultation, nothing was sugar coated, I knew full well what I was getting into and I'm glad I did it. Yes, it can be a little painful, but to me, it's equivalent to doing sit-ups after not doing them for awhile. It is a process, so if you want to see quicker results, then you should have gone under the knife. This is a quick fix society and if you do not see results when you want to see them, you are ready to give up and move on to next quick fix. In order to see good results, it does take a little patience.

I started receiving treatments in March. Prior to my first treatment to my lower abs I weighed 120lb and that's being generous. After only four treatments I now weigh 133.5lbs, two trips to the hospital and no results. I can not even began to tell you about the excrutiating pain that I still have. The Pain is so bad I take vicodin 10/650mg. The only thing I can say is IT DOES NOT WORK, if it sounds to good to be true than it usally is. NO DOWN TIME, I schedule on my off day and still unable to move of function for 2-3 days, my vaginal area was so swollen I could not urinate. I can't fit into any of my clothes, I can't have anything touching my abdomen it's still tender. I could go on for hours...

By the way go to BBB.Com and look at the number of complaints. Look up Advance Lippo Dissolve..

I just had the injections at the Duluth clinic in GA - it was hard to find, they call it Rivertrail and it is not even in Duluth. It is more near Alpharetta or Norcross I would say. Any way after driving around for an hour trying to find it. (There is no sign that says FIG or any sign at all). Call ahead to get directions - the receptionist had to talk me through finally.
I will say I am happy that I went, The person I had was very nice and so was the nurse that explained everything to me. There were 2 really pretty african american girls that were very helpful, I think one was a nurse. The cost was more than what I thought though - I had to get financing to get all my treatments for 6,000. It is expensive.
If you do not have 5 or 6 thousand dollars to spare, I would not even waste time going cause that is how much it costs. I have only had 1 treatment to my abs - so far so good.
It hurts a little still, but nothing major. I feel fine.

I am completely mortified by all the negative comments I am reading. I was really looking forward to my free consult this coming Tuesday. Now I am not sure I should go. This was going to help my self esteem and boost my self confidence or so I had hoped. I'm not sure what to do now. There is no way I can afford Liposuction. Does it really take over 6000.00 to see results? If so I guess my dream is over.

I had my first treatment yesterday. I'm a big chicken when it comes to needles and when the doctor told me 30 injects for my lower abs I broke out in a cold sweat. They gave me a vicodin and waited a bit before starting. of the 30 injections I did not feel anything at all for about 1/3, slight pressure for about 1/3, and the rest like small, quick bee stings. 24 hours later there is a little pain but mostly happening when I make sudden twisting motions or going up/down stairs. There is a little swelling and some small bruises but that is all.

I am amazed at the anti-lipodissolve statements on here. Anyone who took the time to read a bit about the procedure would know that (1) it is not a weight loss technique but more of a body sculpting technique, (2) it doesn't work for everyone (but I figured it was worth the chance with a 95% success rate), and (3) the majority of people report reactions to the treatment are gone within three or four days. For those of you who are screaming "It does not work" really should take an elementary course in logic and one in ethics. The ethical, logically correct statement you should be saying is "It appears not to have worked for me". The number of people undergoing the treatment reporting positive results is too large for this to be simply a marketing scam. I took the time to visit two clinics for free consultations and read 20 or so Web sites and went in knowing this information. Laziness of mind is no excuse.

I do agree that it MIGHT work for some people but I do not agree with the 95% success rate..... more like 40% success rate... several employees from the overland park, Kansas Advanced Lipo Dissolve Center (FIG)openly admitted behind closed doors that it has not worked for over half of the patients. They are trying to figure out why it works so good over seas......I was also told they are swamped by people who are requesting refunds and it is taking several month longer to recieve your refunds.....one min its 60 days the next its 90 and then they turn around and say well we cant tell you when you will see your money.....OP no longer has accounting in there building and every refund is handled at there main location in St.louis, Missouri. They just shuffle you around until you finally threatn them. Then they get back to you and say oh well It will be just a few more days and the cycle continues....I finally had to turn them into the better business bureau just to get my money back. Everyone at the OP clinic was sooooo nice until I asked for my refund then they all turned there backs and started not returing phone calls and became VERY rude with me. corprate was even worse they told me to quit callin and asking about my money and they would call me when it was deposited back into my account.

If you have they money laying around I sugest just going and having lipo suction atleast that is 100% effective....Then you know your getting your money's worth

Does anyone know why these treatments are not available in all states?
California for example?

I agree with tmpape I had my first treatment on Friday of 28 shots and barely felt anything and I have not been in pain..I took a couple tylenol 30 min before my appt and haven't taken anymore since. I was a little sore the first night, but that's it. It seems like a lot of the complaints are coming out of the KC area. And most of the blogs I read people are saying they dont' know what the knots are and if they will go away. All of this was clearly explained to me at my consultation and I was told it doesn't work for all people. Maybe it's a problem with the lipodissolve office considering not all offices use the same ingredients in their injections and not explaining everything clearly or not enough research done by people and having too high expectations. I knew from the begining that I don't have a 100% gurantee that I will loose any inches. But I wanted to try it and see how it works. So if it doesn't then that was a risk I took when I signed up for it.

Exercise did very little to affect my cellulite. I went 5 days a week for over 2 years. It just didn't help no matter how many hours I spent at the gym. (not to mention gym fees).I had mesotherapy 16 months ago. It cost me $1500.00 My cellulite was EXTREMELY STUBBORN. I had 5 sessions two weeks apart. I received close to 200 injections each session. Was it painful? Yes. They disclosed that to me before I ever started. I swelled, bruised, burned, and felt generally miserable, the whole nine yards, they disclosed that as well. But in the end my cellulite was much improved. Not perfect but definitely improved. I am sure that it would not have been such a good improvement if I had not gone to all of my sessions. I am a very small woman (115 lbs) and had terrible cellulite. I still have some, but it was worth every penny to at least get it reduced. On a side note, I did not stay on the diet changes they gave to me (ie.. not drinking water and I quit exercising) so some new cellulite has appeared, but I feel that it is because I did not dedicate myself to a LIFE STYLE change. I am planning to have Lipo-disolve for saddlebags (thighs). I am prepared for whatever side effects there may be and this time I'm dedicated to changing my eating habits so that I can truly reap the benefits of this procedure. There is no such thing as a quick fix. Only something to help you along the way, but really, its up to you and how determined you are to change your body. It is going to cost you. Money, time and real effort and probably some pain too. You have to decide if its worth it and if its what you really want. For me, if it helps me get closer to my goal then I am all for it!!

well i went for my consultation today and decided to go ahead and try today at 6:00 Im a little nervous after reading all of these comments. The price i'm paying is 3 grand for two sections I saw that someone is only paying 179! Where are you going? If anyone has some feed back please email me at amandarios83@hotmail.com.

I have just completed my first set of injections. The injections were relatively painless but for the first 24-36 hours, I was pretty sore. I felt like the entire procedure was fully explained to me and that the redness, swelling, and soreness were just as I expected. As with anything else, there will be some people who are satisfied with the results and will tell others of their success and there will be other people who are not satisfied (for any number of reasons) and will try to make everyone believe that the results they experienced are typical or common for everyone. Ultimately, I think it is necessary to remember that if we were not hoping to achieve some type of cosmetic enhancement we most likely would never have signed up to begin with. I expect that I will see improvements from my treatments but I also know that I have a responsibility outside of the office to help make it happen.

I had my first treatment last tuesday on my lower abdomen then the next treatment on thursday on the upper part. I was told to wait at least 2 weeks before going in for another round on the same parts. I bruised very badly and still very sore with lots of hard lumps under my skin. Im only paying $250 a session for the first 6 sessions then $125 per session from then on. I have read some really outrageous prices on here. YIKES. Im really hoping this works for me. I have had 3 kids and just want my stomach back in a nice shape. I guess the pain is worth it. I go in the day before and they give me a container of cream that I apply 45 min prior to and wrap in saran wrap. It makes it completely numb so I dont feel a thing. At least not until it starts wearing off and OUCH..For the first few days I looked as if I was 4-5 months pregnant again but its going down now.

I went for two consults on Tuesday and have decided to have my first injectiond on Tuesday, June 27th. I am overweight by at least fifty pounds and was told by both places (one of the consults was with an MD; the other one was with a technician in the office) that this was not a weight loss program. I was told I would experience swelling and bruising and some pain, but was assured that the pain would not be too bad. Afer reading the posts, I am nervous about the procedure. I was told I might have to have five or six sessions and the cost is $150. for each session. I am having my upper arms done. From what I was told about the swelling, I imagine that my upper arms will look like I have water balloons in each arm. Has anyone else had upper arms done? I am almost ready to cancel. Also, I am 65 years old; I don't think any of you are that age. I'll be looking for a post. Another Georgia Peach

I have mixed emotion about the LD, I have had 5 treatments. I am doing my lower abdomen and inner thighs at the same time. The pain was ok at first, I really didnt know what to expect, but it has done nothing but get worse. I had to drag my a-- there the last time and cried during the shots. I noticed results after the 4th treatment and was so excited and feeling good about myself. It has been 3 1/2 weeks since the last treatment and I am still swollen. Not sore, just swollen. It's like my "pooch" has spread to my sides and I look wider, ontop of the fact that I have gained like 10 pounds since then. I am eating the same, so thats not it. Of course the "doctor" tells me not to be discouraged. I dont think I will go back for my last set of shots although they are already paid for.

I had ld 6 treatments in 2 different areas. For a total of 12 treatments. HIps and upper outer thighs. The first 3 were not so good as far as the pain goes. I honestly did not know how I could continue. But did. I did my last treatment yesterday. I had them done every three weeks, alternating each area. I will be honest, the pain is horrible. Make sure and either ask for the topical numbing cream before the injections and have them put it on about 30-40 minutes before the injections. For me, the pain lasted about 3-5 hours after the injections. Alot of swelling -- this lasts awhile. I have seen results in my hips the area of fat that was there is no longer. My upper outer thighs I havent seen as much of a result as my hips, however, I was told to wait until ALL treatments are done and about 4-5 weeks after. So, that is what I am doing and keeping a good positive outlook. I also say to start or continue exercising and eating well. I am a runner and run about 7 miles a day 5 days a week......Only on the day that I had the treatment was I not able to exercise. Due to swelling and just the pain. I also itched profusely for about 3-5 days afterwards. Not sure why that is, I am not allergic to soy either. That was really the most irritating thing. I would scratch my self until I bled. I will check back with everyone in about 4 weeks and let you know if it worked for me.....so far I am somewhat pleased. You do swell, ALOT> To where I cant get into my pants or fitting shorts for about a week after treatments. That is discourageing and can get depressing. So just go into it with an open attitude. I say dont give up after one or two treatments. Ive been through it all and believe me I did have thoughts of giving up after the 2nd and 3rd treatment. The swelling and the pain of the injections are intolerable. But I did continue and I am glad I did.

I have cancelled my appoinment for Tuesday to have my first LD done. I'll try anoher way, but may decide to go thru with it in July. Family illness is the reason I have cancelled and after reading the posts here, I am not sure it is worth it. Good luck to all and please continue to post. Again, has anyone had their upper arms done?

I live in Washington State and did a lot of research on Lipodissolve before making the decision to start with the treatments. My area of treatment is my abdomen and love handles. I had my first treatment done to my abdomen 3 days ago and I knew there was going to be pain, but WOW is there pain. I have not taken anything to relieve this pain i.e. Tylenol, etc. My stomach has swelled approx. 4 inches and minimal bruising. I believe each day will get better. For my two areas of treatment I am going to have 4 shots per treatment area for a total of 8. (Total cost $1600.00). I am going to tough this out and rotate each week with the 2 different treatment areas so I can get all of this done within the next 8 weeks. (Hopefully - if I can stand the pain). I exercise everyday weekday (Mon-Fri) and I have a great diet. I have fat pockets in my stomach that will not go away regardless of how much I exercise so this is why I have chosen assistance. I am not sure what the outcome will be, I can only hope that the fat pockets dissolve. I do know that after all my treatments are completed that it will take 3 to 6 months to see "true" results due to all the swelling and the injection working in my system. I will be patient through this long process and keep the site posted.

I had my first treatment in the Houst