Intralipotherapy, the State of the Art

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction intralipotherapy is a term commonly used in the field of aesthetic medicine, above all in Europe, which defines a specific injection technique developed for the treatment of localized fat with substances that provoke the lysis of adipocytes by means of an injection directly into the adipose tissue with a long needle. The aim of this study is to define the technique in detail and everything that is associated with it, on the basis of years of multicenter experience by doctors who perform it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2014, 3,080 European physicians were trained in intralipotherapy technique, and approximately 152,500 patients were treated. The adipocytolytic agent used is a Conformité Européene-certified device. The technique, equipment, protocol, posology, postoperative management, and adverse events are described below. RESULTS: The intralipotherapy technique combined with the appropriate adipocytolytic agent has been shown to be effective in every zone on the average of 76.7% of the cases. The variability is due to the area treated and the patient. The standardization of the technique, homogeneity of the protocol, and the posttreatment management have been essential for standardizing the results and minimizing any adverse events. The latter occurred only in a small percentage of the cases, while those more serious have been extremely rare. CONCLUSION: This study shows how the intralipotherapic technique, when performed properly with an appropriate adipocytolytic device and when proper precautions are taken, can be effective and safe for reducing undesirable subcutaneous fat deposits.