Optimizing double-chin treatments: Synergistic lipolysis using RF cannula and PC+DCA injections - A controlled study
Objectives: To compare submental fat reduction using subdermal radiofrequency lipolysis (19G insulated cannula) alone versus adding phosphatidylcholine (PC) + deoxycholic acid (DCA) mesolipolysis. Key outcomes include changes in subcutaneous thickness (via ultrasound), skin tightening, adverse events, and patient satisfaction. We hypothesized that combined therapy yields enhanced adipocyte disruption and improved submental contour over RF alone.
Introduction: Submental fullness often prompts minimally invasive interventions. Cannula-based RF lipolysis delivers focused thermal injury to adipocytes while inducing collagen tightening. Mesolipolysis with PC+DCA chemically dissolves fat cells. Limited data exist on combining both strategies for double-chin reduction. We designed this trial to investigate whether dual-modality lipolysis surpasses RF alone in reducing submental thickness and enhancing patient-reported outcomes.
Materials / method: A prospective cohort (n=16; mean age 44±5.2 years; 8 men, 8 women) was split into two equal groups. Group A received a single subdermal RF session at ~10–15W (3 passes), while Group B received identical RF plus two mesolipolysis injections (PC 250 mg+DCA 125 mg in 10 mL) at weeks 2 and 6. Submental thickness was assessed by ultrasound. Statistical analyses (paired t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVA) were conducted using SPSS v26 (p<0.05 significant).
Results: Baseline submental thickness averaged 28.9±3.2 mm. At 8 weeks, Group A showed a 20.3% mean reduction (p=0.031), whereas Group B achieved 31.6% (p<0.001). Between-group ANOVA indicated significantly greater improvement in Group B (F=6.42, p=0.009). Effect size for combined therapy was d=1.02, suggesting strong clinical benefit. Satisfaction scores were 7.1±0.8 (RF alone) vs. 8.5±0.9 (combined). Mild bruising was the most common side effect.
Conclusion: Subdermal RF lipolysis effectively reduces submental fat, and adding PC+DCA injections confers statistically and clinically superior outcomes. The combination achieved notably higher fat-volume reduction without additional complications, boosting patient satisfaction. These findings support a dual-therapy protocol as a robust alternative for managing double-chin concerns, warranting larger-scale investigations to refine dosing and validate long-term stability of results.
