FDA warns against unapproved “fat melting” injections.
On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration said it had received reports of people suffering side effects after using unapproved treatments.
Side effects included serious infections, skin deformities and long-term scarring.
“The FDA has received reports of consumers experiencing side effects such as permanent scarring, serious infections, skin deformities, cysts, and deep, painful nodules after receiving unapproved fat-dissolving injections,” the FDA wrote on its website.
They added that some consumers received the injections through clinics or medical spas, while others bought “fat-dissolving drugs online and injected themselves.”
A healthcare worker gives an injection.
Getty
How much weight will come back after you stop injecting weight loss drugs?
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) and sodium deoxycholate (DC) are common ingredients used in these injections, although they have not been approved by the FDA for this purpose.
Sold under the names Aqualyx, Lipodissolve, Lipo Lab and Kabelline, the injections are used to reduce fat on the thighs, upper arms, abdomen and chin.
According to the FDA, the injections work by providing a non-surgical way to break down the fat cells around the injection site after a series of injections.
What is ‘Barbie Botox’? A doctor explains the latest beauty trend on social media—and why you probably don’t need one
Kybella, which is deoxycholic acid, is the only prescription fat-dissolving drug approved by the FDA, meaning it has been evaluated for quality, safety, and effectiveness.
However, the drug is only approved for use under the chin and must be administered by a healthcare professional.
But those injections should only be given by medical professionals – and only the approved versions.
“The patient may not know what they are injecting,” Dr. Dan Maselli told NBC News. “You might think it’s fat.”
“It could be muscle tissue,” he added. “It could be your blood vessel or it could be around a nerve.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education