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POSTED UNDER Lipodissolve REVIEWS

I Need Surgery As a Result of Lipodissolve

ORIGINAL POST

I thought I would try the lipodisolve. After all,...

never againFebruary 1, 2008
$2,300
I thought I would try the lipodisolve. After all, it was offered at the Doctor's office. Well, immediately after my second treatment, I suffered a hematoma (actually there were 2). They blistered and broke open. Consequently, I got a severe infection that involved my entire abdomen. I was nauseated and ran a fever of 101 to 102 degrees for 3 days. Fortunately for me, I received my treatment through the doctor's office. I was treated for the infection for about 2 weeks. After that, now I have such a gapping hole in my abdomen from the infected "blister", I had to go to a plastic surgeon. The plastic surgeon had to cut out the dead tissue and this made the hole "bigger". It is about an inch deep and about 3 and 1'2 centimeters in diameter. I want to let anyone that reads this see that this is a VERY REAL possibility. I am aware of this happening to at least 3 other people in the same city.
Had I known about this, I would have never had this done. It is not FDA approved. I did NOT do my homework. It does not happen to everyone, BUT in the small town that I live in, I am aware of three others beside myself. Don't take the chance, go to the gym. I was going to the gym as well as getting the treatments. I just wanted a little "jump start" and now I have been on my couch for 3 weeks and am going to have surgery, complete with general anesthesia, to repair this hole in my abdomen. I won't be able to get to the gym for at least another 4 - 6 weeks.
I have two more treatments left that I paid for but am SURE NOT going to have done. I am waiting to hear if the doctor will reimburse me for those. I am racking up medical bills that I didn't even see coming. I think the FDA needs to be made aware of these life threatening side effects.

Replies (28)

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mkuechel
February 1, 2008
The experts caution, the news stories are everywhere on on RealSelf, the horror stories outweigh the good. I don't understand why anyone would risk their health and try this treatment. An injection is not innocuous. In this case, you are putting something into your body that no one can readily identify. And those who are injecting, are mere marketers, not doctors whose goal is to help you achieve your goals in the safest and most predictable manner. You said it yourself... you didn't do your homework and it's not FDA approved. Those messages are everywhere and the people who sold you on lipodissolve are not doctors, they are slick and sleezy salesman looking to get rich quick and prey on our insecurities to do it. It's as though lipodissolve is the drug addition of this decade. But rather than junkies injecting themselves, people are paying thousands for someone to inject them. The result is a really rotten trip--one that results at best in no result, and at worst in situations like yours. Your story and so many others are the unfortunate evidence that people need to hear to steer clear of lipodissolve or any fat-melting injection. My suggestion to anyone considering lipodissolve: Take the money and invest in fresh fruits and veggies, a good personal trainer and some fresh air. If you really want to reduce what good diet and fitness cannot, seek out a qualified, board-certified plastic surgoen who has experience with all the options: tummy tuck, body lift, liposuction...and can demonstrate to you how these can help you. Ask for reference to his or her patients, and talk with them. No point in spending thousands on something "non-surgical" and expecting it is safer than surgery, and having an outcome far worse than anything you started with.
never again
February 1, 2008
Thank-you for your comment. I usually don't fall for this stuff but was "hyped" up by my doctor's office manager. I "assumed" it was FDA approved by the mere fact that my "doctor" was offering it. I would never have gone to these places like Fig.Spa. I am very disappointed in my doctor. Now I just have to have take care of my health and get this healed. I am on a crusade and am very vigilant to warn everyone to RUN from this. CBS had a special last night of other horror stories from the Fig.Spa in Duluth, Ga. This spa has closed their doors and is out of business. A doctor on the news special said "if you want to do this, have it done by a licensed physician". Well, I did and look at my results. I do have a good diet regimen and am at the gym at least an hour a day. I believe that is the only way. No one could be more sorry than me. Besides the pain and eventual scarring, not to mention the health effects it may have later down the line, I am not able to exercise and haven't been able to in 3 weeks. I think the FDA needs to be notified and this needs NATIONAL attention. Thank-you for your interest.
jnlwriter
June 4, 2009
Everything you say makes sense of course, and this woman's experience is horrible! But people can also get hematomas from insulin injections. And I know of a healthy young woman in my town who died getting liposuction. In general, surgery is far more risky than injections.
(unregistered guest)
February 10, 2008
I have no idea what clinic you went to, but this just don't look right! I've had many treatments and never had any bad pains, and never had anything like this. I think the problem here is that many clinics don't do Lipodissolve but they advertise the treatment as Lipodissolve. As I understand there is a specific protocol for Lipodissolve but clinics change the protocols to try for faster results. The Fig spa, for example, use some form of acid to the treatment known as desoxycolate. This acid is used in many medicines to dissolve it but some clinics use only this particular acid and call it Lipodissolve. It looks to me like you had treatments with this acid. I spoke with my doctor and he said this is not at all added to Lipodissolve in normal treatments. Other clinics use mesotherpay with completely different medications than Lipodissolve, but again they advertise that they give Lipodissolve! Clearly it would be important to clarify if people on here had actual lipodissolve treatments, or some copy of it?
never again
February 24, 2008
I went to a general practioner, a "medical doctor". What happened to me was not a result of the injected product. Immediately after my injections at my second treatment was that I developed hematomas, these are blood blisters. Apparently, the needles pierced subcutaneous capillaries in my abdomen. The hematomas burst, the tissue got infected and the rest is history. The infection uas the culprit. People that read my story need to understand that it doesn't matter what product was injected, and no it was not acid, it was the procedure itself. The delivery of the product, the injections. In all I had 4 hematomas, 2 that were insignificant not to mention in that they healed without incident. Sure the product being injected should be considered, but whatever it is must be delivered by the same route. When a person has a surgical procedure there are inherent risks due to the procedure itself, this is explained in what you sign and acknowledge in your "informed consent" for the surgery. This also applies when you have many, many injections. This "has" happened to other people. Not to everyone, but people must know that the skin is the largest organ of the body. Infection is everywhere, your skin protects you. When you provide an entry portal for the infection you compromise the natural protection barrier your skin provides. I hope this clarifies the confusion and I hope that I have presented the facts in a more understandable way.
lovetocook
February 24, 2008
I have had seven lipodissolve treatments to my upper/lower abs and flanks. I have not experienced any problems. I am going to a dermatologist/plastic surgeon - not a lipodissolve clinic. Maybe that is the difference. All I know is that I am getting great results. I look better now tha I have in many years. It is a process. You will not see any change in just one treatment. Lipodissolve is not to be used to lose weight. It is used for contouring your body. I love it!
never again
February 24, 2008
I am happy for you that you have had good results and were not injured. I am sending you a detailed description that I hope helps you understand what happened to me. Procedurally, everyone faces the same risk. You and many others did not have your injection sites "infected", but many did. Just like if you and I are exposed to the same cold virus. You get sick with a cold and I don't. I went to a general practioner, a "medical doctor". What happened to me was not a result of the injected product. Immediately after my injections at my second treatment was that I developed hematomas, these are blood blisters. Apparently, the needles pierced subcutaneous capillaries in my abdomen. The hematomas burst, the tissue got infected and the rest is history. The infection uas the culprit. People that read my story need to understand that it doesn't matter what product was injected, and no it was not acid, it was the procedure itself. The delivery of the product, the injections. In all I had 4 hematomas, 2 that were insignificant not to mention in that they healed without incident. Sure the product being injected should be considered, but whatever it is must be delivered by the same route. When a person has a surgical procedure there are inherent risks due to the procedure itself, this is explained in what you sign and acknowledge in your "informed consent" for the surgery. This also applies when you have many, many injections. This "has" happened to other people. Not to everyone, but people must know that the skin is the largest organ of the body. Infection is everywhere, your skin protects you. When you provide an entry portal for the infection you compromise the natural protection barrier your skin provides. I hope this clarifies the confusion and I hope that I have presented the facts in a more understandable way.
Happytummy
March 24, 2008
The FDA is aware of the problem and made an official statement condeming the procedure back in December, 2007. Everyone really needs to do their homework first. I looked into it, but was scared off by all of the stories.
never again
March 24, 2008
Thank-you for your comment. I filed a formal complaint in January as well. I am going to try to find their statement hopefully on-line. Haven't yet, but will keep looking.
(unregistered guest)
March 25, 2008
From what I understand you should be blaming the doctor that punctured you wrongly not the treatment, since you said yourself the problem wasnt because of the chemicals themselves. Secondly, from what I've researched Lipodissolve is a treatment for people who are already at their ideal weight or close to it, since it's only to target small areas that don't respond to diet and exercise. This seems not to be your case since as you said you wanted it as a "jump START". I'm sorry that you've had so many difficulties because of this but in all honesty I'd have to say it's the doctor that administered the shots who you should be blaming, since the product didn't have any side effects the first time you used it and since the complications you had where only in the areas where the DOCTOR puntured you badly.
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