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Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW
What Are the Side Effects of Fat Dissolving Treatments
The vast majority of side effects from treatment with Fat Dissolving Treatments are typically mild and not permanent. Studies show that with each treatment side effects occur less frequently and to a lesser degree (though they may still be present). The commonest side effects we see after treatment are as follows:
- Swelling around the treated area – We expect to see swelling. It means the treatment is working! In fact, we say please call us if it does not swell. We recommend not going back to work on the day of treatment and using ice on the neck intermittently in the hours after treatment.
- Temporary numbness under the chin. Approximately 50% of patients will feel this slight numbness after treatment, with symptoms wearing off after 30 days on average.
- Warmth and redness – 40% of patients will feel warmth or redness under the chin on the day of treatment.
- Firmness under the chin – Studies show that 16% of patients feel firmness or ‘induration’ under the skin after treatment. This is not typically a worrying symptom and should resolve, on average, after 51 days according to studies.
Rarer side effects, such as temporary problems with a weak smile, facial muscles and trouble swallowing (2%) have been reported.
The risk of affecting the smile is due to the small chance of temporarily affecting the marginal branch of the facial nerve. The anatomy of the nerves in the face differs from person to person and in 2% of treatments a small branch of the facial nerve can be affected. This would present as a temporary problem with the smile muscle (see image below). The affected side would find it more difficult to perform a full smile. The problem is temporary and the average time to resolve is 44 days.
