Lipolysis in Abu Dhabi

Lipolysis in Abu Dhabi offers a non-surgical option for reducing localised fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise. At House of Skincare on Yas Island, lipolysis is performed using injectable fat-dissolving formulations that disrupt adipocyte cell membranes, causing the fat cells to rupture and be cleared through the body’s natural lymphatic system. The primary application at House of Skincare is submental fat reduction, more commonly called double chin treatment, although the technique can also be applied to other small localised areas. Dr. Khadija Al Zaabi, DOH-licensed Consultant Dermatologist with over 21 years of clinical experience, assesses candidacy and performs all injections personally.

Lipolysis injections are not a weight loss treatment. They are appropriate for patients at or near their target weight who have a specific, localised fat deposit that is cosmetically troublesome. The double chin is the most common presentation because submental fat accumulation is largely genetic, not weight-related, and does not reduce with general weight loss. For this reason, patients of healthy weight can have a significant double chin, and lipolysis is often the only non-surgical option that produces meaningful correction.

Why House of Skincare for Lipolysis?

All lipolysis injections at House of Skincare are performed by Dr. Al Zaabi. The submental area contains the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, the digastric muscle, and significant vascular structures. Incorrect injection depth or placement risks nerve damage, muscle injury, or dysphagia. Precise anatomical knowledge determines whether lipolysis in this area is safe and effective or not. Dr. Al Zaabi performs a full anatomical assessment of the submental area and neck before determining injection points and dosing.

House of Skincare holds a 4.9-star patient rating and is DOH-licensed for all injectable procedures. The assessment also determines whether lipolysis is the appropriate treatment, or whether a combination approach including Botox for masseter relaxation or a jawline filler for definition would produce a more complete result.

How Lipolysis Injections Work

The primary active ingredient in medical lipolysis injections is deoxycholic acid, a bile acid that naturally occurs in the human body and plays a role in the digestion of dietary fat. At therapeutic concentrations, deoxycholic acid disrupts the phospholipid bilayer of the adipocyte cell membrane, causing lysis of the fat cell. The cell contents are then cleared over a period of weeks through the lymphatic system and processed by the liver. Once the fat cells are destroyed, they cannot regenerate, making the result permanent as long as body weight remains stable.

The injectable product used at House of Skincare is Belkyra (deoxycholic acid 10mg/ml), a regulatory-approved formulation that is the only deoxycholic acid product with clinical trial evidence for submental fat reduction. Multiple injections are placed in a grid pattern across the treatment area at a standardised depth. The treated area is marked out carefully before any injection begins.

Treatment Areas

Submental fat (double chin): The most common and most clinically validated application. Submental fat accumulates below the jawline and above the hyoid bone. Even modest amounts create a visible double chin and blunt the angle between the neck and chin. Lipolysis in this area produces a clearer jawline definition and a sharper cervicomental angle. The result is visible at 4 to 6 weeks after each session and improves progressively over the full course.

Jowls: A small fat pocket immediately below the mandibular border contributes to the appearance of jowling. Lipolysis in this area, at a more superficial depth than submental treatment, can reduce jowl bulk as part of a lower face contouring plan. This is combined with jawline filler and masseter Botox where appropriate to achieve a comprehensive lower face result.

Bra fat and axillary rolls: Small lipodystrophic deposits along the bra line and lateral chest can be reduced with lipolysis injections. These are not large treatment areas and the volumes required are modest. Patients should have realistic expectations about the degree of reduction achievable versus surgical liposuction.

Small abdominal deposits: For patients with isolated, small fat bulges in the lower abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, lipolysis can provide modest reduction. This is most appropriate for small, localised areas rather than generalised abdominal fat. Patients with significant volume require surgical assessment and are referred appropriately.

What to Expect from a Lipolysis Session

Topical anaesthetic cream is applied to the treatment area and left for 30 to 45 minutes. The treatment area is marked out precisely based on the anatomical assessment. Injections are delivered via a fine needle in a grid pattern across the marked area. Each injection point is closely spaced and the volume per injection is small.

Immediately after the session, the treated area swells. This swelling is significant, particularly in the submental area. It is the expected inflammatory response to deoxycholic acid activity and confirms that the treatment is working. The swelling peaks at 24 to 48 hours and resolves over 1 to 2 weeks. The treated area will feel firm, numb, and sore for the first week. Some patients describe a burning or stinging sensation for the first few hours after treatment.

The final result of each session becomes visible at 4 to 6 weeks, once the inflammatory phase has resolved and the lymphatic clearance of lysed fat is complete.

How Many Sessions Are Required?

The number of sessions depends on the volume of fat present in the treatment area. Most patients require 2 to 4 sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Each session reduces the fat volume incrementally. Sessions are continued until the clinical target is reached or the patient is satisfied with the result. A small submental deposit may clear significantly after 2 sessions. A larger deposit may require 4 to 6 sessions.

Dr. Al Zaabi assesses the treatment response at each visit and advises on whether further sessions are indicated based on how much fat remains and whether the rate of change is progressing as expected.

Is Lipolysis Permanent?

Yes. Deoxycholic acid destroys fat cells, and fat cells do not regenerate once destroyed. The result is permanent at stable body weight. If significant weight gain occurs after treatment, remaining fat cells in the area and elsewhere can expand. For most patients at stable weight, the improvement in submental definition is durable long term.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Ideal candidates for submental lipolysis are patients who have a defined submental fat deposit, are at or near their target weight, have good skin elasticity in the neck area, and are bothered by the appearance of their double chin. Skin laxity is an important consideration. Lipolysis reduces fat volume but does not tighten the overlying skin. In patients with very loose neck skin, removing the fat support can make the laxity more visible. Dr. Al Zaabi assesses skin laxity at consultation and advises whether lipolysis alone is appropriate or whether combining it with a skin tightening treatment such as Linear Z HIFU is necessary to achieve the desired result.

Patients who are significantly overweight, pregnant, or breastfeeding are not appropriate candidates. Patients with active infections, anticoagulation therapy, or known sensitivity to deoxycholic acid are excluded at consultation.

Before Your Session

Stop blood-thinning supplements 5 to 7 days before your session.
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before.
Shave the treatment area if it is the submental region and you have beard growth.
Plan for visible swelling for up to 2 weeks after each session. Avoid important social or professional events in this period.

After Your Session

Apply ice wrapped in cloth to reduce swelling for the first 24 hours.
Sleep with your head elevated for the first 2 nights.
Avoid strenuous exercise and heat exposure for 48 hours.
Mild bruising is normal and resolves within 1 to 2 weeks.
Do not massage the treated area during the first week. After the first week, gentle lymphatic massage can support clearance.
Avoid neck procedures including hair removal and massage in the same area for 2 weeks.

Alternative and Related Treatments

Jawline Filler: Many patients requesting double chin treatment actually have a weak or receding chin that makes the submental area appear fuller than it is. Chin and jawline filler using Juvederm Volux can sharpen the jaw angle and improve the chin-to-neck relationship without removing any fat. For patients with both weak chin definition and true submental fat, combining filler with lipolysis produces the most complete result. Dr. Al Zaabi assesses the chin and jawline anatomy at consultation.

Linear Z HIFU: For patients with submental skin laxity alongside fat accumulation, Linear Z HIFU delivers focused ultrasound energy to the SMAS layer beneath the skin to produce a non-surgical lifting and tightening effect. It can be performed alongside or after lipolysis to address the loose skin that may become more visible once fat volume is reduced. The two treatments are complementary rather than alternatives.

Botox for Masseter (Jaw Slimming): For patients whose wide facial appearance is driven by enlarged masseter muscles rather than submental fat, Botox injected into the masseters reduces muscle bulk over 4 to 6 weeks, slimming the lower face. This is assessed separately from submental lipolysis and may be recommended as part of a comprehensive lower face contouring plan at House of Skincare.