Alongside new-fangled eyeliner hacks, the conversation around non-surgical cosmetic treatments is taking over TikTok. Lemon Bottle fat dissolving injections, which have amassed 56.7 million views, is the procedure you're currently most likely to stumble across during a late-night scroll as influencers reveal before-and-after shots of their freshly created washboard stomachs.
Not only does this viral phenomenon come hot on the heels of another procedure designed to make a body part appear slimmer – a.k.a Barbie Botox – but it is dividing opinion in much the same way.
Lemon Bottle is a new brand of fat dissolving injections. In clinic, the skin is numbed, the area to be treated (usually chin, stomach, thighs and arms) is marked with what looks like a grid of squares and the solution is injected directly into the fat cells. “Essentially, the injections are based on vitamin B and break down the wall of the fat cell so that you can excrete it through your urine,” explains aesthetician and GP, Dr Ahmed El Muntasar.
Plastic surgeon Dr Vahe Karimyan describes Lemon Bottle as a “revolutionary injectable”, largely on account of its natural ingredients and uses it a “great deal” in his clinic. “The magic of Lemon Bottle begins with the activation of fat metabolism, orchestrated by vitamin B2,” he says. “This sets the scene for the breakdown of fat. Next in line is lecithin, which plays a crucial role in destroying and transporting unnecessary fat cells. The final step introduces bromelain, a powerful enzyme that breaks down fat and reduces inflammation. A single Lemon Bottle fat dissolving injection can bring about significant improvements for many patients, with positive changes often noticeable after just one session."
A cursory glance online reveals that a host of smaller, local UK clinics are also offering the procedure, with many using their websites to highlight the lower cost of Lemon Bottle compared with alternative treatments.
But not everyone is convinced. Fat dissolving injections hit peak popularity in the late '80s and experienced a renaissance in the noughties as a less-invasive, speedier alternative to liposuction or surgery. Since then, popular brands of fat dissolving injections include Aqualyx, which uses deoxycholic acid – a salt found in human bile that aids fat digestion – to destroy fat cells.
The fact that Lemon Bottle does not contain deoxycholic acid, an ingredient that is an industry standard and backed by scientific papers, makes it problematic for some practitioners on various levels.
Board-certified plastic surgeon and 111 skin founder, Dr Yannis Alexandrides, says: “Lemon Bottle fat dissolving injections may be trending on social media but my personal assessment and initial research finds no scientific papers to support the efficacy and safety of this product. At present, the current research is too flimsy for me to feel safe and confident to offer this treatment. New non-surgical treatments like this one need to be properly assessed and scrutinised by scientific publications.”
Dr Vahe disagrees. “The Lemon bottle formula is registered in Korea where it has been used as a fat dissolving treatment for over 3 years," he notes. "The treatment is covered by one of the largest insurance companies and is sold by key aesthetic product distributors.”
However, it is clear that Dr El Muntasar also has some concerns about the product. In particular, that Lemon Bottle fat dissolving kits are widely available to buy online, as the absence of deoxycholic acid means the product is classified as a cosmetic rather than a medical drug. “People end up doing these procedures at home, thinking it is perfectly safe, when it is particularly dangerous on areas of the face,” he says. “Even experienced doctors don't inject fat dissolver into the face as people can end up with lifelong complications, including nerve and vascular damage, dry mouth and issues with their eyes.”
The made-for-TikTok name is misleading, too, notes Dr Alexandrides. “When treatments are non-surgical, it can sometimes give people a false sense of security, and they don't realise that there are possible side effects that can be triggered, such as necrosis [the death of the cells in your body's tissues], especially if you don't go to a qualified prescriber.”
For this reason, we would never recommend leaning on TikTok for advice about aesthetic treatments. A consultation with a licensed practitioner ensures any question you may have is answered by a professional and ensures that you are a suitable candidate for a procedure.
Reading the comments below the videos, perhaps what is most concerning is that TikTok is popularising fat dissolving injections to a Gen Z audience – something that can create disordered attitudes towards weight, which can be damaging on both a physical and psychological level.
It is also worth remembering that TikTok trends are fickle and quickly drop off in popularity. Not so long ago, buccal fat removal and its signature ‘suck-on-a-straw’ look was going viral. Now there's a widespread acceptance that, up until your 60s, buccal fat is actually what makes you look youthful. Not only that, but buccal face massage is the buzzy facial treatment everyone's talking about right now – for which, guess what, you actually need some fat to work with.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
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