Injection Lipolysis — Chin

Injection lipolysis using phosphatidylcholine-deoxycholate (PCDC) or equivalent fat-dissolving compounds to permanently reduce submental fat (double chin). Administered as a series of fine-needle injections into the fat layer beneath the chin.

Injection lipolysis for the chin and submental area at Dermedika uses phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid (PCDC) compounds — the same active ingredients that underpin the FDA-cleared Kybella product in the United States — to permanently dissolve localised fat deposits beneath the chin without surgery. The active compound disrupts the phospholipid membrane of fat cells (adipocytes), causing them to lyse and release their lipid contents. The free lipids are then metabolised through the lymphatic system over the following 4-8 weeks. The submental region — the area directly beneath the chin — is one of the most common sites for localised fat accumulation that is disproportionately resistant to diet and exercise. Even patients who are otherwise slim frequently carry a persistent small deposit in this location due to genetic predisposition. Injection lipolysis is the primary non-surgical intervention specifically targeting this anatomy, offering a permanent reduction in adipocyte number (unlike treatments that only shrink fat cells temporarily). The procedure involves cleaning the submental area, marking a grid of injection points typically spaced 1-1.5 cm apart across the treatment zone, and injecting small volumes of the lipolytic solution into the subcutaneous fat layer at each point. Topical or injectable local anaesthetic is used to manage discomfort. Following treatment, significant swelling develops in the submental area — typically lasting 5-10 days — as the inflammatory response clears the disrupted adipocytes. This swelling is an expected sign that the treatment is working. Results become visible as the swelling resolves and the lymphatic clearance process completes, approximately 4-8 weeks after each session. A full treatment course of 2-4 sessions is typically required, with 6-8 week intervals between sessions. The reduction achieved is permanent — the destroyed fat cells do not regenerate — though significant weight gain can expand remaining adipocytes and reduce the visual effect over time.