{
  "what": "Fat dissolving injections are a prescription medicine, deoxycholic acid, injected in a grid across a small pocket of pinchable fat so that the fat cells break down and are cleared by the body; the approved use is fullness under the chin in adults. Dr Sin Yong, on Orchard Road, Singapore, examines the pocket before any injection is discussed. They do not tighten skin, move a gland or lengthen a short chin, and whether a registered product is stocked is confirmed at consultation.",
  "key_facts": [
    "Mechanism: deoxycholic acid is a detergent-like bile acid the body already makes; the synthetic injectable form disrupts fat-cell membranes and the body's inflammatory response clears the debris, which is why swelling, warmth and tenderness follow",
    "Approved use: moderate to severe submental fullness in adults, tested against placebo in the phase 3 REFINE trials; use on the jowl, bra-line, inner knee, upper arm or abdomen is off-label",
    "Not selective for fat: it acts on any cell it reaches, so it is injected at a defined depth, kept away from the jawline and the marginal mandibular nerve, and never placed into the platysma or the submandibular gland",
    "Wrong question: fullness that is mostly loose skin or a lax platysma, a short or recessed chin, a prominent submandibular gland, or body weight; removing fat under slack skin can make the neck look older",
    "Singapore status: a prescription medicine, not a cosmetic, given by a registered doctor if a registered product is available; mesotherapy with compounded lipolytic cocktails is no longer permitted outside an approved clinical trial",
    "Should not have: difficulty swallowing, infection or active skin disease at the site, altered anatomy from earlier surgery, bleeding disorders or blood thinners, pregnancy or breastfeeding",
    "Side effects: swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and firmness are expected; nerve injury with an asymmetric smile, difficulty swallowing, skin ulceration and local hair loss are uncommon",
    "Alternatives used here: Onda Pro and the 4K Body Lift for pinchable fat (in place of fat freezing), the VF Lift – Vertical Figure Lift on Volnewmer where skin has lost recoil, and chin enhancement for a short chin"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Deoxycholic acid injection: prescribing information (NDA 206333). US Food and Drug Administration 2015. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/206333Orig1s000lbl.pdf",
    "REFINE-1, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial with ATX-101, an injectable drug for submental fat reduction. Dermatologic Surgery 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26673433/",
    "Deoxycholic acid: a review in submental fat contouring. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27785706/",
    "Overview of ATX-101 (deoxycholic acid injection): a nonsurgical approach for reduction of submental fat. Dermatologic Surgery 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27787266/",
    "Cunha KS, Lima F, Cardoso RM. Efficacy and safety of injectable deoxycholic acid for submental fat reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33523775/",
    "Safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for non-invasive reduction of submental fat. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26607045/"
  ],
  "owner_url": "https://drsinyong.com/fat-dissolving-injections-singapore/",
  "doctor": "Dr Sin Yong, aesthetic physician, Orchard Road, Singapore",
  "updated": "2026-10-31"
}