"A Systematic Review of Injectable Lipolytic agents for Non-Submental Fat Reduction".

Area of Science:

• Aesthetics
• Dermatology
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Injectable lipolytic agents are increasingly used for localized fat reduction.
• Deoxycholic acid (DCA) is FDA-approved for submental fat, but applications in other areas are emerging.
• This review examines the use of these agents beyond the submental region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on injectable lipolytic agents for non-submental fat reduction.
• To evaluate treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction, adverse events, and cost-effectiveness.
• To identify areas for future research and potential regulatory expansion.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane).
• Inclusion of studies on injectable lipolytic agents for non-submental fat reduction.
• Data extraction on outcomes, satisfaction, adverse events, and costs; bias assessment using ROBINS-I and RoB 2.

Main Results:

• Twenty-five studies involving 3,178 patients were analyzed.
• Agents included deoxycholic acid (DCA), phosphatidylcholine (PC), CBL-514, and caffeine-hyaluronic acid.
• 93.75% of studies reported fat reduction, with 37.5% achieving statistical significance; adverse events were mild; patient satisfaction ranged from 57.1% to 86%; cost analysis showed competitiveness with cryolipolysis but higher cost than liposuction.

Conclusions:

• Injectable lipolytic agents represent a promising minimally invasive option for non-submental fat reduction.
• Further clinical trials are essential for standardizing protocols, assessing long-term efficacy, and cost-effectiveness.
• Expanding FDA approval for new indications is a potential future development.