The short answer: Deoxycholic acid injections permanently destroy fat cells in a small, stubborn pocket, and the area under the chin is the most predictable place to treat. Expect roughly 15–25% fat reduction per session, 2–3 sessions 6–8 weeks apart, and significant swelling for 7–14 days each time. It's $350 for one area. It isn't weight loss, and it won't fix loose skin.
Deoxycholic acid is a synthetic version of a bile acid your body already uses to break down dietary fat. Injected directly into a fat pocket, it ruptures the fat cells, and your lymphatic system clears them over the following 4–8 weeks. Those cells don't come back. The fat cells that remain can still grow if you gain weight, so a stable weight keeps the result.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day of | Photos, topical numbing, then multiple small injections. 15–30 minutes. Injections sting briefly |
| Days 2–4 | Peak swelling. Under the chin, it often looks alarming and worse before it looks better |
| Days 3–5 | The area can feel sore, tight and numb. Most people keep a low profile for a few days |
| Days 5–7 | Most clients feel ready for normal life again |
| Week 6 | Real contour change becomes visible as the fat clears |
| Weeks 6–8 | Next session, if needed |
The swelling is why timing matters. Don't book a session within two weeks of a wedding, a photo shoot or an important presentation.
The same treatment works on other small, well-defined pockets: along the jowl line, bra fat, inner knees and small pockets below the belly button. Bra fat typically needs 3–4 sessions. For larger areas, the number of sessions and cost climb quickly, and liposuction may be the better route. Pricing is $350 for one area, $500 for two and $650 for three, and a typical course runs $700–2,600.
Fat dissolving is performed by Torri Bennett, RPN. More on the fat dissolving page.