No. 08 · Nurse-led

Fat Dissolving.

Targeted Aqualyx for small pockets of stubborn fat — chin, jawline and body.

Nurse Rachel delivering Aqualyx fat dissolving injections at Refined Medical Aesthetics, Seaton Delaval
Duration
45–60 mins
Downtime
48–72 hrs swelling
From
£80
The approach

What to expect.

Aqualyx is a non-surgical injectable for small pockets of stubborn, diet-resistant fat. A course of 2–4 sessions is usually recommended for best results. Most commonly used on the chin and jawline area.

Areas we treat: Chin · Jawline · Small body areas

How it works

Three steps.

01
Consultation
We start with a conversation about your goals, history and suitability — never a needle.
02
Treatment
Delivered by Rachel with medical precision, using prescription-only products sourced through licensed pharmacies.
03
Two-week review
Included with every appointment. Small tweaks at this review are on the house.
Pricing

What it costs.

Fat dissolving is priced by area size. We agree the area at consultation — this isn’t a treatment to book off a price list. Most clients need 2-4 sessions four weeks apart for proper results.

Treatment Per session
Small area (under-chin) — 45 mins £80
Medium area (jawline, bra line) — 45 mins £120
Large area (flanks, abdomen pockets) — 60 mins £180

Free 30-minute consultation if you’re new — we use it to assess whether fat dissolving is the right answer for you (often it isn’t, and I’ll tell you that honestly).

The science, plainly

What it actually does.

Fat-dissolving injections use deoxycholic acid — a chemical your body already makes to help digest fat — injected directly into a small pocket of subcutaneous fat. The acid breaks down the membrane of fat cells, releasing their contents. The body then processes and clears those contents through the lymphatic system over 4-8 weeks.

It’s a slow, gradual process. The fat cells don’t magically disappear — they’re destroyed and removed by your body’s own systems. That’s why downtime includes significant swelling, why a course is needed, and why results are visible weeks later, not the next day.

It works for small, defined pockets of stubborn fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Classic candidates: the soft pad under the chin, small bra-line bulges, jawline softness, occasionally upper-arm or abdominal pockets in clients close to their goal weight.

It does not work as a weight-loss treatment. It will not give you a flat stomach if you have visceral or generalised body fat. It will not replace exercise. Anyone selling it as a "shortcut to weight loss" is misleading you. I’d rather tell you that than take your money for something that won’t work.

Suitability

Who this is for.

Fat dissolving suits you if you:

I’ll send you elsewhere — or postpone — if you:

On the day

From door to done.

Numbing cream first — especially for under-chin work. While we wait, we go over consent and the questionnaire. Photos taken at consistent angles for the before-and-after comparison.

I inject small amounts of product across the target area in a fanned pattern. You’ll feel pressure, sometimes mild burning — the deoxycholic acid stings briefly as it goes in. The whole appointment is 45-60 minutes.

Expect significant swelling for 48-72 hours, mild bruising for up to a week. The swelling is the treatment working — your body breaking down the targeted fat cells. Visible result builds over 4-8 weeks.

Aftercare & risks

The first week.

Risks: swelling and bruising are expected, not risks. Real risks include nodules, prolonged firmness, asymmetry if the body processes one side faster than the other, and very rarely, nerve irritation in the area injected. NMC-registered, fully indemnified, listed on NMC, Save Face and JCCP.

Common questions

Good to know.

Am I a candidate?
Fat dissolving works best on small, defined pockets of stubborn fat — not as a weight-loss treatment. If you’re looking for general weight loss this isn’t the tool. We’ll assess at consultation honestly — sometimes the answer is no.
How many sessions do I need?
Typically 2–4 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart. Smaller pockets may need only 2; larger or denser pockets may need 4. We assess after each session to decide if more is needed.
How long until I see results?
Visible change builds over 4-8 weeks per session, as your body clears the broken-down fat cells. Don’t expect day-after results — it’s a slow process.
Is there downtime?
Significant swelling for 48-72 hours, sometimes longer. Mild bruising for up to a week. The area can feel firm or have small lumps for 1-2 weeks. Plan accordingly — this isn’t a quiet recovery.
Is it permanent?
The fat cells that are destroyed don’t come back. But remaining fat cells can still expand if you gain weight. Maintenance comes from staying close to your weight at the time of treatment, not from more sessions.
Does it hurt?
Numbing cream helps. The injections themselves are tolerable; the deoxycholic acid stings briefly as it goes in. Most clients say the burning sensation is the worst part — it settles within 30 minutes.
What about the “Ozempic-style” injections I see online?
Different category entirely. Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs are for systemic weight management, prescribed for medical reasons (diabetes, obesity). Fat dissolving is a localised, surface-level treatment for small specific pockets. Don’t conflate them.
Can I have it on multiple areas at once?
Sometimes. We agree at consultation. Two small areas (chin + jawline) often, yes. Multiple large areas, no — the swelling response and recovery would be too much.
Can I have it if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — we’d wait. The principle of treating non-essential cosmetic procedures during pregnancy or breastfeeding is to defer.
What if I have a history of disordered eating?
We talk it through carefully at consultation. I won’t treat someone whose body image concerns suggest fat dissolving isn’t the right answer for them. Sometimes the answer is “not now” or “not me — speak to your GP first”.
Ready?

Book a consultation.

£0 · 30 minutes · Walk out with a plan, not a pressured booking.

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B12 and fat-burner blends, nurse-administered.
Also consider
Book a consultation
Free, 30 minutes — no pressure to book a treatment.
Further reading

From the journal.

Your first aesthetics consultation — what to expect

Last updated: 7 May 2026