Tissue-toxic effects of phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate after subcutaneous injection for fat dissolution in rats and a human volunteer.

BACKGROUND

The safety of the lipodissolution procedure for the cosmetic treatment of fat is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to determine the subcutaneous tissue effects of phosphatidylcholine solubilized with deoxycholate (PC/DC) in rats and a human volunteer.

METHODS

Rats were treated subcutaneously three times with 50, 300, or 600 microL of PC/DC formula on the abdomen in a chronic study (30 days). A human volunteer undergoing elective liposuction was similarly treated. Cell membrane lysis, cell viability, and histologic status were determined on fresh biopsies of subcutaneous fat from the injection sites.

RESULTS

PC/DC dose-dependently reduced membrane integrity and cell viability. Histologic alterations induced by PC/DC included fibroplasia, bandlike fibrosis in the region of the cutaneous muscle, and partial muscle loss. The highest dose caused widespread fat necrosis, fat cyst formation, and necrotic changes of the walls of small blood vessels. Histologic sections of subcutaneous tissue from the human volunteer showed dose-dependent panniculitis, fat cysts, and vessel necrosis. DC (2.5%), tested for comparison in the rat, exerted membrane and histologic effects similar to those of PC/DC. Solvent controls caused negligible alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

Injection lipolysis with PC/DC causes tissue fibrosis and necrosis of adipose and vascular tissues in rat and man, making the long-term safety of PC/DC for nonsurgical treatment of subcutaneous fat deposits uncertain.