mesotherapy | injection lipolysis | lipo-dissolve | phosphatidylcholine | pcdc
The topic of weight loss is hot. People want to know how they can shed pounds and keep them off for good. The downside of the weight loss boom is that billions of dollars are spent each year on weight loss treatments that have not been adequately studied to substantiate the claims being made.
First, there are creams on the market that claim to reduce cellulite and slim the thighs. The acids in these creams are supposed to tighten the skin and pull collagen fibers back together. The creams claim to eliminate the "dimple" effect and contour the skin.
According to plastic surgeons and other medical experts, there is no cream that can burn fat or reduce the size of fat cells. Though creams may improve the look of your skin, unless you change your diet and add exercise, the fat will remain.
Second, there's lipo-dissolve, which is sometimes called injection lipolysis and frequently confused with mesotherapy. Lipo-dissolve usually involves the injection of drugs known as PCDC or phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate, which practitioners say 'melts away' fat. This injection fat removal treatment has become exceedingly popular despite the Food and Drug Administration's statement that, "these are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses" and the lack of controlled studies to prove the safety and effectiveness of PCDC. In addition, several medical societies have warned against the treatment. In May 2007, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery warned patients against the use of injection fat loss treatments stating that none have received FDA approval and there have been no published peer-reviewed scientific reports of properly performed prospective clinical trials to confirm safety or efficacy. This is not an alternative to liposuction for people that want to get rid of large amounts of fat. The injections are intended for small problem areas that can't be changed by diet and exercise. Seriously obese people are not candidates for lipo-dissolve.
We've all heard of transdermal patches. They work by leeching medicine through the skin and into the bloodstream over time. The technology has been used for contraceptives, nausea, and smokers trying to kick the nicotine habit. Now, they say it can be applied to weight loss.
The claims are that this patch, worn behind the ear, can cause you to lose weight. It speeds up your metabolism and suppresses the appetite, The transdermal administration technology appears to work, look at Nicotine patches, for example. But it has not been evaluated by the FDA to be effective in weight loss.
Have you heard of seaweed diet and weight loss soap? It's a Chinese soap that claims to firm, tone and contour the skin as well as eliminate the inner fat out of the human body. How does it do this? The truth is, we have no idea. The claim that the soap eliminates fat from the body has not been evaluated by the FDA and has not been adequately studied for effectiveness in weight loss.
What about body wraps? Spas claim that customers will lose several inches in one session. Combine that with several more sessions and your body will shrink before your eyes. What is the easiest weight to lose? You guessed it-water weight. These stimulating wraps will squeeze as much water out of you as they can. The kicker is that while you want to trim ten inches off your thighs, you may see a half or quarter of an inch reduction in each thigh. The ten inches comes from the minuscule losses everywhere else added together.
Diet pills have been a popular weight loss treatment for years. Many diet pills that claim to speed up metabolism contain ephedrine, which comes from the Ma Huang plant. Over time, these pills have been shown to cause heart problems in young patients. Other conditions, including increased heart rate and blood pressure were also noted.
Last, Hoodia is a known appetite suppressant that comes from a plant called hoodia gordonii. The plant is only found in the Kalahari region of Africa. Companies have tried to imitate its effects and are marketing everything from gum to pills to drink mixes with hoodia derivatives. Read the fine print. Most of these diet pills don't contain enough of the hoodia to suppress the appetite.
When considering any type of weight loss treatment, do your homework. You want to be sure that what you are buying is safe and effective and that you aren't stuck in a position having spent sums of money with no weight loss to show for it. Second, watch out for treatments that claim rapid, easy, and quick results. Healthy weight loss is anything but fast. Keep your expectations about weight loss realistic. You can't expect to lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks by taking appetite suppressants. Healthy weight loss involves a balance between proper diet and exercise.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A



Soothe Your Skin With a Homemade Sunburn Remedy
By: Don | 09/07/2009Even the most careful people can accidentally get burned. Today, more than ever before, when sunburn strikes, people are turning to natural solutions including sunburn relief with a homemade sunburn remedy.
Be Fit as a Woman Over Forty - Use These Top Expert Tips to Trick Yourself Into Losing Belly Fat
By: Perry Permann | 09/07/2009Are you a woman over 40? Aren't you as fit as you've used to be? Do you notice fat accumulating on your abdomen, and do you want to lose stomach fat? A descent in fitness and gaining belly weight is characteristic for women over 40- you are not unique with...
Would You Like to Discover How to Lose Belly Fat? Get the Answers Here
By: Perry Permann | 09/07/2009Are you a woman over 40? Many women over 40 have a lot of questions regarding losing belly fat. I answer the most frequently asked questions about how to lose belly fat easily in this short article- especially for women over 40. What are the most essential foods to keep off? Trans fats...
Pro-Hormones And Pre-Made Cookie Dough...What Do They Have In Common?
By: Dane Fletcher | 09/07/2009They are probably the most misunderstood supplements available right now. Pro-hormones were first brought to the supplement market back in 1991. Since then, they have skyrocketed to the top of the bodybuilding supplement market - being outsold by only Creatine and MRP/Protein supplements. And there’s only one reason why... they work! The reason I say pro-hormones are misunderstood is because most people don’t realize what they are and, more importantly, how they work.
Weight Loss Pills to Lose Weight Fast
By: Syed Najiulla | 09/07/2009There are so many weight loss methods available in the market today. So it wholly reckons on you whether you would like to take the risk free and the difficult way to lose weight or to take up an easy and a more risky way to weight loss. You just...
The Principles of Burning Belly Fat Quickly
By: Wayne Landt | 09/07/2009Accumulated fat around the waist can make all of us a little self conscious. At one time or another, we've all been afraid to show off our bodies because we haven't like the way we looked. Despite all our best efforts, it can seem like a losing battle as we fight...
Get The Stress Out, With Your Workout
By: Dane Fletcher | 09/07/2009Regardless of the amount of stress in their lives, the most common thing people do at the end of the workday is plop down in front of the TV, zone out for a few hours, then go to bed. Let’s take a look at some of the common ways people deal with stress.
Chosing the Right Weight Loss and Exercise Program
By: Wayne Lance | 09/07/2009The right program of exercise and diet can make a major impact on your body. In fact, correctly done you can lose weight faster, lose body fat in stubborn areas, and even completely transform your body. However, the route to your best body should be considered a journey and not...
Seasonal Firefighting Jobs - How to Join a Hotshot Crew
By: Lisa Jenkins | 31/05/2009 | CareersEvery summer, wildfires break out in various locations across the United States. The United States Forest Service and state agencies hire seasonal firefighters every year. If these types of jobs interest you, there are opportunities available on handcrews, helitack crews, and hotshot crews. In a situation where a wildfire has broken...
Airline Jobs 101 - Launching Your Flight Attendant Career
By: Lisa Jenkins | 12/05/2009 | CareersIf you are interested in becoming a airline fight attendant, you can choose between regional carriers, major airlines, or charter services. Working as a flight attendant for a regional carrier means that you will be working close to home, while a position with a major airline will give you the...
Broadcasting Careers 101 - Finding Television Production Jobs
By: Lisa Jenkins | 07/03/2009 | CareersWith the enormity of the television industry and the massive projects that are undertaken, there are literally hundreds of television production jobs and career opportunities that you can choose from. With so many kinds of TV genres and types of television productions that you can choose to be a part...
Working With Animals - From Alternative Veterinary Medicine to Dog Walking Jobs
By: Lisa Jenkins | 07/03/2009 | CareersThere are many creative animal-related jobs, some requiring artistic backgrounds, and others requiring special expertise or education. But no matter the career, what sets creative animal-related careers apart from the rest is the ability to think outside the box and take a "normal" animal-related job and come up with a...
Working From Home - Mystery Shopping Jobs Provide Supplemental Income
By: Lisa Jenkins | 02/01/2009 | CareersMystery shopping takes a number of forms, depending on the type of business involved. Companies providing mystery shopping services can accommodate their clients' needs by providing different kinds of services. Mystery shopping can take the form of a personal visit, telephone interviews, and web mystery shopping. Most people picture mystery shopping...
Reality TV Casting Calls - 3 Top Audition Tips
By: Lisa Jenkins | 02/01/2009 | CareersIf you're on a reality television show that means you're lucky enough to be on TV, which is almost reason enough to audition for reality television - a chance to be on TV! Here are three tips for those who are heading out to a reality TV casting call. 1. Almost...
Cooking Jobs - Become a Caterer and Own Your Own Catering Business
By: Lisa Jenkins | 26/12/2008 | CareersThe catering offers a very different and interesting side to cooking than you would find when working in a conventional restaurant kitchen or hotel. Catering jobs are exciting as you will be working in wonderful venues, in an unconventional kitchen setting and creating magical food for weddings, birthday and anniversary...