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Injection lipolysis for reduction of saddlebag trochanteric bulges--half-side controlled pilot study
Daisy Kopera1, Renate Horejsi, Stefan Werner
1Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. daisy.kopera@meduni-graz.at
Background:
Phosphatidylcholine, a lecithin extracted from soybeans can reduce serum cholesterol to some extent. Intravenous use may prevent fat embolism in polytrauma patients. When injected intralesionally in a formulation containing also deoxycholate and ethanol it is supposed to act as "fat burner" to reduce undesired fat deposits; there is little evidence-based scientific support for this indication.
Objective:
To evaluate the capability of phosphatidylcholine + deoxycholate + ethanol (PPC/DC/E) to reduce body fat with a half-side pilot study for the reduction of saddlebag trochanteric bulges.
Methods:
PPC/DC/E was injected into the right posterior trochanteric areas three times at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Treatment areas and the same regions of the contralateral side as a control were evaluated by sonography. Tape measurements were taken and the thickness of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was measured with an optical device (Lipometer) at baseline and at week 8 and week 20 (2 and 14 weeks after completing therapy).
Results:
In this half-side trial, no significant reduction of subcutaneous fat was achieved after three treatments with PPC/DC/E when compared to the untreated side.Transient inflammatory reactions occurred in all patients.
Limitations:
Only the commercially available formulation containing the three components was tested.
Conclusion:
The off-label use of PPC/DC/E as a "fat burner" did not produce measurable reduction of undesired trochanteric fat deposits.
