03:54 PM CST on Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Lisa Manzo, News 4

Watch Lisa Manzo’s report

Before and after pictures

www.lipodissolvedoctor.com

(KMOV) – It is the latest, non-surgical way to get rid of fat.  Lipodissolve injections are supposed to melt away unwanted saddlebags or belly blubber.

KMOV

Kellie Dougan wants to get rid of her belly fat.  Years of exercise and dieting haven't helped, so she's trying something new.

"I've seen the advertisements for it. I thought the results were real good and it's non-invasive,” says Dougan.

Dr. Thomas Wright says Lipodissolve uses naturally occurring chemicals called phosphatidyl choline and deoxycholate to dissolve unwanted fat just under the skin, but not too deep to possibly damage muscle.

"We spread out the injections evenly across the stomach to insure even results," says Dr. Thomas Wright.

The amount of chemical injected equals the amount of fat dissolved.

"There's an immune process that occurs where the cells dissolve and the immune system come in to clean up the debris," says Dr. Wright.

Dr. Wright says that's when patients experience a majority of the side effects.

"You can expect some swelling and tenderness for three to ten days," he adds.

News 4 dermatologists Dr. Madhavi Kandula has concerns about the chemicals used because she says there are a lack of long-term studies on Lipodissolve done here in the U. S.

"They're bile salts or bile acids. They're naturally occurring but they're still detergents and you don't know the effects that it can have long term effects it can have on the skin, underlying fat and muscle," says Dr. Kandula.

Gale Baniak isn't worried.  She was Dr. Wright’s first patient when he began his training this past October.  Gale has had two Lipodissolve procedures on her abdomen and back.

"There's no actual weight loss on the scale but my clothes were fitting me considerably differently," says Baniak.

Dr. Wright says some patients were happy with one treatment; others need four to six to permanently dissolve fat.

It can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks before you see your results and Lipodissolve costs about $600 for each treatment.

Dr. Young, from Barnes-Jewish West County and Body Aesthetics is awaiting FDA approval to run an investigational study on the chemicals used in Lipodissolve.  Right now they are not FDA approved for this procedure.