Fat dissolving.Targeted, never wholesale.
Localised fat that resists diet and exercise responds differently to an injectable that addresses the cell itself.
- Session length
- 30 minutes
- Course
- 2-3 sessions
- Results read
- 6-8 weeks post session
- Downtime
- Swelling 5-7 days
Fat dissolving injections are an injectable treatment using deoxycholic acid to permanently destroy stubborn localised fat deposits, offered at Skin Aesthetics by Krystian in Bursledon, Southampton in 30-minute appointments, with results reading fully at six to eight weeks after each session in a typical course of two to three treatments, involving five to seven days of noticeable swelling as the main downtime, and suiting patients whose concern is a discrete, pinchable area that has not responded to weight management rather than those seeking a body-contouring or weight-loss solution.
Pricing and booking are on Fresha, kept in one place so it is always current.
Permanent reduction. Of the cell, not the contents.
Fat dissolving injections are a class of injectable treatment containing deoxycholic acid, a molecule the body already produces to help digest dietary fat. When placed precisely into a subcutaneous fat deposit, the solution disrupts the outer membrane of fat cells, causing them to break apart and be cleared gradually through the lymphatic and circulatory systems. The cells that are destroyed do not regenerate. The result, once the inflammation of treatment has settled, is a permanent reduction in the volume of that deposit.
The distinction worth making is between a fat dissolving treatment and a weight-loss treatment. The injectable addresses a localised, defined deposit, not distributed body fat. Patients who benefit most are those with a specific pinchable concern, such as a submental pocket beneath the chin, a small abdominal roll, or inner-thigh fullness, that persists despite a stable weight and appropriate lifestyle. It is not a substitute for weight management, and Krystian will say so clearly at consultation if the presentation does not suit the treatment.
How the solution works. Precise placement, controlled disruption.
Deoxycholic acid is a bile salt, and at the concentrations used clinically, it acts as a cytolytic agent, meaning it breaks down cell walls on contact. The solution is deposited across a close grid of small injection points mapped over the target area, ensuring even distribution through the fat layer. The body's inflammatory response then clears the cellular debris over the following weeks. This gradual clearance is why results are read at six to eight weeks rather than immediately, and why interim swelling is not cause for concern but an expected part of the process.
Krystian's approach to this treatment is to map the deposit carefully before placing a single needle. The grid is drawn, symmetry is assessed, and the depth of injection is adjusted for the anatomy of that specific area on that specific patient. Over-treating a small area or under-spacing the injection points produces an uneven result. The time spent on mapping is not preparatory; it is where the outcome is decided.
Fat dissolving sits appropriately within a considered treatment plan rather than as an isolated intervention. In some cases, a skin-tightening treatment may be discussed alongside it, particularly for areas where laxity may become more visible once volume is reduced. The consultation is where that broader assessment happens, without obligation and without pressure to proceed.
Three things read before treatment.
Suitability, course structure, and contraindications are assessed at consultation before any treatment is agreed.
Is the deposit suitable
Not every area of concern is an appropriate candidate for a fat dissolving injection. Krystian assesses whether the deposit is truly subcutaneous and discrete, whether the overlying skin has enough elasticity to adapt once volume reduces, and whether the concern is one that the treatment is clinically designed to address. Presenting with diffuse fat distribution or significant skin laxity will result in an honest conversation about alternatives.
Course and interval planning
A single session rarely completes the result. Krystian plans the course from the outset: how many sessions are likely, how far apart they should sit to allow proper clearance between treatments, and what a realistic final outcome looks like rather than an optimistic one. Patients are not booked into a second session until the first has been properly read at the six-to-eight-week mark.
Contraindications and timing
Fat dissolving injections are not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in patients with active infection or inflammation in the treatment area, or in those with certain thyroid or lymphatic conditions. Krystian reviews a medical history form before every treatment, and if anything in that history warrants a pause or a GP discussion, that guidance is given clearly and without equivocation.
Thirty considered minutes, mapped and placed.
Each session follows the same unhurried sequence, from initial review through to aftercare guidance.
Arrival and consent review
You arrive at the clinic in Bursledon and the medical history form is reviewed. Any changes since the last session are noted. Consent is confirmed, and there is space for any outstanding questions before the appointment proceeds.
Mapping and marking
The treatment area is cleaned and the deposit is assessed. Krystian maps the injection grid in pen before placing anything, marking the boundary of the area and the spacing of each point. Symmetry is checked and the depth of the fat layer estimated by feel and experience. This stage takes longer than most patients expect, and that is intentional.
Injection placement
The solution is placed across the pre-marked grid using a fine needle. Most patients describe the sensation as a sharp sting at each point, followed by a building heat or tightening in the area as the solution disperses. The area will swell during the session; this is expected and does not indicate a problem.
Aftercare brief
Krystian walks through what to expect over the following days: swelling peaks at 24 to 48 hours and reduces across the first week, firmness and tenderness are normal, and heat or vigorous activity should be avoided for 72 hours. A follow-up review is scheduled for six to eight weeks after the session.
The honest version.
The questions every patient is too polite to ask out loud. Read at your pace.
Will it hurt?
Each injection point produces a brief, sharp sting, and as the solution spreads through the tissue, patients typically feel a building heat or tightness in the area. This fades within 20 to 30 minutes of the session ending. The submental area, beneath the chin, tends to be more sensitive than the abdomen or flanks. Krystian does not use topical anaesthetic as standard but will discuss this at consultation if sensitivity is a significant concern for you.
How long until I see the result?
The treated area will swell noticeably for five to seven days after each session, which temporarily makes the area appear larger rather than smaller. The swelling is part of the inflammatory process through which the destroyed fat cells are cleared. Results begin to read at around four weeks and are most accurately assessed at six to eight weeks, at which point a decision about whether a further session is warranted is made.
How long does it last?
The fat cells destroyed by the treatment do not regenerate. In that sense, the reduction in those specific cells is permanent. However, the surrounding fat cells are unaffected and can still expand with significant weight gain. The result is best maintained by a stable weight and is not a substitute for ongoing weight management.
Is this safe?
Deoxycholic acid has been studied extensively and is used clinically for localised fat reduction across many countries. As with all injectable treatments, safety is determined significantly by the practitioner's anatomical knowledge and injection technique. Krystian reviews your medical history before every session and will decline to treat if any contraindication is present. The most common side effects are swelling, tenderness, and bruising, all of which are expected and resolve within one to two weeks.
Where can I see the pricing?
Pricing and booking are on Fresha. The reserve-your-consultation button on this page takes you directly there.
What we tell you before we begin.
- BruisingCommon at injection points and typically resolves within seven to ten days.
- SwellingExpected and can be pronounced for five to seven days, peaking at 24 to 48 hours post-treatment.
- Tenderness and firmnessThe treated area will feel tender and firm for one to two weeks as the tissue responds and clears.
- Uneven resultIf fat clearance is asymmetric, this is assessed at the six-to-eight-week review and addressed in a subsequent session if appropriate.
- ExclusionsPregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection or inflammation in the treatment area, certain thyroid conditions, compromised lymphatic function, and known hypersensitivity to any component of the solution.
The complimentary consultation is where Krystian will tell you honestly whether this treatment is right for your presentation, or whether a different route makes more clinical sense.
Reserve your consultation.
If you have a specific, localised concern that has not responded to diet and exercise, this may be the right conversation to have. The consultation is complimentary, without obligation, and held at the clinic in Bursledon by appointment.