By Dr Vahe Karimyan, MD, MSc, MS, PhD
*this article first appeared in Prime Magazine
The last few years have been a period of breakthroughs for medications and treatments focused on helping patients tackling excess weight.
Until relatively recently, the average person on the street would probably not have even been aware of the existence of semaglutide (more commonly known as Ozempic). Now it is regularly front-page news, offering the promise of “miracle” results that could be a game change for the millions of people in the UK battling obesity.
Celebrities and public figures including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson have recounted their experiences with the drug.
However, as with any exciting new product, there has also been plenty of scepticism, from fears over potential side effects and concerns over counterfeit products entering the market to a debate over current safeguards are adequately ensuring only those eligible for these drugs are able to take them.
Fat dissolving injections, a distinct but no less important treatment for excess weight, have faced similar acclaim and criticism. These cosmetic injections work in a different way to the better-known weight loss medications, using a process known as lipolysis that removes localised fat deposits rather than facilitating a reduction in overall body weight.
In a similar way to semaglutide, fat dissolving injections like Aqualyx, Kybella and Lemon Bottle have exploded into the public consciousness remarkably quickly, fuelled in part by social media. From my private clinic in Chelsea, I’ve worked with hundreds of patients in recent years using Lemon Bottle in particular, with fantastic results and without the side effects that can occur with other similar treatments, such as severe swelling and skin necrosis.
But despite this success in the clinic, regulators and the media have shown hostility with questions over the safety and efficacy of these kinds of products and calls to reclassify these cosmetic injections as medical products.
In my view, this is misguided and betrays the inconsistent and illogical approach taken by regulators to products in different jurisdictions.
It’s vital that regulators and patients alike understand the purpose of these kinds of products and have the right expectations about what can be achieved. The use of fat dissolving injections is a cosmetic procedure designed to target localised areas of fat deposits rather than as a general weight loss treatment.
A typical patient would be someone who has tried exercise and/or a strict diet but isn’t seeing progress in the specific areas they would like – perhaps a double chin or in the abdominal area – and is nervous about trying alternative methods like liposuction.
There are steps that the industry could and should be taking to instil confidence in patients. The first thing is to ensure that clinical safety remains the number one priority. I’m firmly of the view that fat dissolving injections should only ever be administered by medical professionals with the training to do so safely. Self-administering of these injections by someone without a good understanding of human anatomy is a risk that isn’t worth taking.
Counterfeits are also a real issue that need to be addressed. Counterfeit products pose a risk to patients since the ingredients in them can never be guaranteed and often vary significantly. Practitioners should only ever purchase products from licensed pharmacies or certified suppliers. Manufacturers can also play their part by ensuring that their packaging is as secure as possible. Genuine Lemon Bottle products, for example, have a QR code sticker on the packaging that can be scanned to verify the product’s authenticity. Additionally, transparent labelling and marketing regulations can play an essential role in preventing misleading claims and help to guide safe use of these products.
Finally, there is currently a real lack of sufficient clinical studies on fat dissolving injections. Although we’re seeing clear evidence of effectiveness every day with patients, our industry is one that relies on robust clinical studies to give us a better picture of exactly what can be achieved. These studies are critical to validate effectiveness and identify any long-term risks.
They can also play an important role in tackling the misinformation we’ve seen spread around these products, particularly on social media, providing customers with a clear and unequivocal understanding of their efficacy and safety. This will be vital not only to build consumer trust and ensure products continue to be used safely, but also to support continued development in the sector and bring new generations of treatments to market for the benefit of consumers.
About Dr Vahe
Dr Vahe Karimyan (aka Dr V), founder of Dr Vahe Clinic, is a highly respected practising surgeon at King’s College Hospital, with over 25 years of experience in delivering precision-driven care. With a strong clinical background, Dr V has earned a reputation for his exceptional expertise and passion, particularly in the field of facial aesthetics.
As a practising NHS surgeon, Dr V upholds the highest standards of care, ensuring his patients receive outstanding service whether in medical or aesthetic treatments. His dedication to detailed precision, combined with a natural sense of perfectionism, has made him a trusted name in his field.
