Aqualyx: What You Need to Know

Pros

• Aqualyx works to nonsurgically remove stubborn fat from areas that are hard to modify with diet and exercise, like a double chin.  

• Downtime can be minimal, depending on how your body reacts. 

• No anesthesia is required, and discomfort is minimized with a numbing agent in the solution. 

• Results are typically permanent (if you keep your weight steady). 

Cons

• Results from individual treatment sessions can be subtle, and it takes time for results to develop. Most people need between 2 and 8 treatments, 6 to 8 weeks apart, to see their desired result. 

• If you’re being treated for a double chin, you may have more downtime than you would after chin liposuction, which usually produces less significant swelling. 

• Some patients experience severe swelling for several weeks to a month after their treatment (a side effect known as “bullfrog neck”).  

• It’s not the go-to option for large pockets of fat due to the expense of multiple vials and need for multiple treatment sessions, as well as the long timeline to see full results. 

RealSelf Tip: Though Aqualyx is often promoted as a treatment for cellulite, you'll be likely to see better results from treatments like Qwo (a new injectable), Emtone, or BodyFX, which treat the fibrous tissue bands that create fat bulges and skin dimples.  

• Average Cost:
• $775

• Range:
• $150 - $7,200

Some providers charge by the area, while others charge by the vial. 

Ask about a potential discount if you buy multiple treatment sessions up-front.

Good candidates for Aqualyx are close to their ideal body weight, with small stubborn areas of fat that have resisted diet and exercise. Like other body contouring procedures, the treatment isn’t intended as a weight loss solution.

Good skin elasticity is also key. For patients with too much skin laxity, there is a risk of sagging skin once the fat has dissolved. It is possible to follow Aqualyx with a skin-tightening procedure, but that can significantly add to your cost.

Seeing a specialist registered plastic surgeon who has the training and experience to assess your situation can help ensure this is the best procedure for you.

First, you’ll be given a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, to minimize discomfort in the treatment area.

Then your provider will make a series of Aqualyx injections, drawing from multiple vials (enough to match the size of the treatment area and volume of the fat deposits). 

Some people feel a stinging sensation as the solution begins to work, but it shouldn’t be too painful.

Treatment time ranges from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many injections you have.

Common Aqualyx side effects include swelling, tenderness, or slight bruising in the treated area. Some patients also have temporary numbness.

The tenderness and bruising usually resolve within a few days to a week, but the numbness can last several weeks and swelling can take up to a month to fully resolve, depending on how your body reacts. 

You’ll feel physically fine to return to your daily routine quickly, but the swelling can be very noticeable, especially under the chin where it’s harder to hide (scarves will be your friend).

To help reduce the swelling, wear loose clothing and avoid heat and vigorous exercise during the first week. 

If your face or neck was treated, avoid makeup and use only a gentle cleanser for at least 12 hours, to prevent further irritation.

Some people do see the results they want within six weeks of a single session, but most need multiple sessions to see a noticeable fat reduction.

The number of recommended sessions depends on the size of the area being treated. Small fat pockets on the jowls or chin may require only two or three Aqualyx treatments, while larger areas, like the thighs, may require up to eight.

Once the fat cells have been liquefied, your body will metabolize and excrete them. As with Kybella, it's not a quick fix: this process usually takes six to eight weeks.

RealSelf member SunnyNW, who was treated for a muffin top, says in her review that she had lost 2.5 inches from her stomach within six weeks of her treatment.

Aqualyx fat dissolving injections are not a weight-loss treatment, but rather a body sculpting procedure. While it can permanently remove stubborn pockets of fat, it's only used to eliminate fat cells in small areas of the body that are resistant to diet and exercise. 

If you're looking to remove a large amount of fat or lose a significant amount of weight, this won't be your best option. 

But if you're at a healthy weight and want to address a targeted area of stubborn fat that hasn't responded to a healthy lifestyle, then fat loss injections like Aqualyx could be a good solution.