Fat Reduction

Stubborn fat

For the pocket that won't shift

Fat-dissolving injections in Hale, Altrincham

Reduce a stubborn pocket of body fat and smooth the outline of an area that bothers you, without having an operation.

Your weight might be fairly steady, your clothes might fit well elsewhere, but there's still that bit at your waist or lower tummy. You don't necessarily want to be smaller everywhere. You'd just like less of that particular bulge.

Dr Alex usually uses Aqualyx for suitable pockets of body fat. The treated cells break down and your body clears them gradually. The healing response can also encourage collagen production, helping the skin firm up as the fat reduces.

It's a way to target the area that bothers you without trying to lose weight from your face and the rest of your body.

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Dr Alex has trained clinicians in fat-dissolving treatments and presented on the subject at Aesthetic Medicine Live.

Book a consultation Learn more
Treatment cost
From £400 per session
Results
Over the following weeks
Appointments
A course may be needed
Recovery
Swelling and tenderness

Sound familiar?

One area seems to have its own plans

The rest of your body may change with exercise or weight loss while one pocket stays stubbornly familiar.

The waistband bulge

You're comfortable with your overall size, but a pocket at the waist or lower tummy catches your eye in fitted clothes. More weight loss isn't necessarily what you want.

The bit beneath the bra strap

A small roll around the bra line can be more noticeable in a fitted top than it is in the mirror without clothes. You'd like that outline to look smoother.

You like your size everywhere else

You'd happily lose the little roll at your waist, but you don't want slimmer cheeks or to drop another dress size. A local treatment lets you focus on the area that bothers you.

At a glance

Planning body fat-dissolving treatment

Think in terms of a treated area and a course, rather than a number on the scales.

Treatment cost
From £400 per session
One body area is £400; the size and boundaries of the area are agreed at assessment.
Results
Over the following weeks
The body clears treated cells gradually; swelling can hide the early change.
Appointments
A course may be needed
The number and spacing depend on the product, fat pocket and response.
Recovery
Swelling and tenderness
The area can look larger at first. Plan around snug clothing, exercise and important events.
Best suited to
Local fat pockets
Treatment works on suitable fat beneath the skin, rather than overall weight or deep abdominal fat.

The change to look for

Less bulge, a smoother outline

The aim is a reduction in the pocket you can see or pinch, so that area sits more smoothly beneath your clothes.

Changes develop gradually as the treated area settles. Photographs and the way clothes sit can be more useful than weighing yourself: a local contour improvement may make very little difference on the scales.

The skin can firm up as the area heals, rather than simply being left loose over less fat. Dr Alex assesses how much it is likely to tighten, particularly if you already have stretched or sagging skin.

✓

✓

Reduce a suitable pocket of fat at a specific body area.

✓

Soften a bulge that remains noticeable at a stable weight.

✓

Improve the way a fitted top or waistband sits over the treated area.

✓

Reduce fat with the potential for firmer skin as the area heals.

Is it right for you?

What makes a pocket worth treating?

Location, size and skin quality all matter. Having some pinchable fat doesn't automatically make injections the best option.

Your weight is fairly stable
You're near a weight you're comfortable maintaining and want to address one area. If you're planning substantial weight loss, it often makes sense to reassess afterwards.
There's a suitable layer beneath the skin
Dr Alex can examine the pocket and judge whether injections can target it appropriately. Fullness caused by bloating, deeper abdominal fat or another condition needs a different approach.
You can allow time for a course
You understand that the area may swell and that more than one visit may be needed. This suits a gradual improvement better than a last-minute fix before a holiday.

The size of the change

When another option would do more

A large volume of fat, significant loose skin or a wish for a much bigger change may be better addressed in another way. Dr Alex will explain when device treatment, surgical advice or leaving the area alone is the more sensible choice.

How it works

Reduce the fat and support a firmer contour

Aqualyx breaks down fat cells in the treated pocket. Your body then clears the damaged cells over the following weeks.

The treatment disrupts the outer membranes of fat cells and triggers a local healing response. This can also encourage new collagen in the supporting tissue, contributing to firming as the area gets smaller.

The injections are directed into the chosen fat pocket. They don't suppress your appetite or set out to reduce fat throughout your body.

Your appointment

Start with the area that bothers you

You don't need to choose the product or work out how many injections it would take.

Consultation

Assess the pocket and the skin

Dr Alex examines the area, checks your medical history and discusses the change you want. You'll go through suitable options, the likely course, swelling and costs.
Before injecting

Agree the treatment area

The boundaries are marked and the skin is prepared. Dr Alex explains the product and comfort measures being used, so you know what to expect.
Treatment

Treat the fat beneath the skin

The solution is placed into the agreed fat pocket. You may feel stinging, warmth or pressure; the area can become tender and swollen afterwards.
Between sessions

Review after it has settled

Follow the supplied aftercare and allow time for the response. Dr Alex assesses the change before deciding whether another session would be useful.

Why Dr Alex

Why choose Dr Alex for fat-dissolving injections?

Dr Alex has been a medical trainer for Healthxchange Academy, with fat-dissolving treatments forming part of his teaching work. He has also presented on injectable fat reduction at Aesthetic Medicine Live in London.

His assessment looks beyond the size of the pocket. He considers how much of the bulge is fat, how the overlying skin may settle and whether the likely improvement justifies a course. That helps you choose a treatment for the change you actually want to see.

GMC-registered doctor · 7072776

Full Member of BCAM

International toxin trainer

Aesthetics Awards winner 2021

Safety and recovery

Expect swelling before the contour improves

Swelling, bruising, redness and tenderness are common after fat-dissolving injections. Temporary firmness, lumps or numbness can also occur.

Possible side effects

Recovery varies with the area, amount treated and product. Swelling can remain noticeable for days and sometimes longer, so loose clothing may be more comfortable. You'll receive specific advice about exercise and caring for the area.

Less common complications include infection, persistent lumps, uneven fat reduction, skin injury or scarring, and nerve injury. The product and treatment plan should be discussed with your individual medical history in mind.

When to get urgent help

Contact the clinic promptly for severe or worsening pain, spreading redness or heat, fever, blisters, broken skin or skin becoming unusually pale or dark. These should not be dismissed as normal swelling. Call 999 for breathing difficulty or signs of a severe allergic reaction.

When treatment may not be suitable

Treatment is deferred during pregnancy or breastfeeding and should not be performed through infected or inflamed skin. Tell Dr Alex about allergies, medicines, bleeding problems, significant medical conditions and any previous surgery or hernia near the area.

You'll have the risks and aftercare explained before deciding whether to proceed.

Treatment costs

Body fat-dissolving treatment prices

Treatment is £400 for one body area, £600 for two areas or £875 for three areas per session. The consultation is £75.

1 body area
£400per session
2 body areas
£600per session
3 body areas
£875per session
The size and boundaries of each area and any proposed course are agreed at assessment.
A consultation with Dr Alex costs £75. If you choose to have treatment within 3 months of your consultation, you can put this fee towards it, including at a later appointment. It cannot be used towards skincare products. If you decide not to have treatment, the fee covers your consultation.
Book a consultation
Dr Alex will confirm what counts as an area for your treatment and estimate how many visits may be worthwhile. If a course is recommended, we'll explain the likely overall cost before you decide.

Your questions

Fat-dissolving injections FAQs

The practical questions that matter when you're considering a course.

Which body areas can be treated?
Suitable local pockets around the abdomen, waist, flanks or bra line may be considered. Other areas need individual assessment of the fat and surrounding tissues. The amount and location matter more than the name of the area. Under-chin treatment has its own assessment and pricing.
What if I don't want to lose weight everywhere or get 'Ozempic face'?
That is one reason to consider local fat reduction. Aqualyx targets the treated pocket rather than causing whole-body weight loss. 'Ozempic face' describes facial hollowing that can accompany substantial weight loss, including with GLP-1 medicines. If you're happy with your overall weight and only want to change one area, a targeted approach may suit you. It doesn't replace weight-loss treatment needed for your health.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on the size of the pocket, the treatment used and the amount of change you want. A course may be needed, with time between visits for swelling to settle and the response to become clear. Dr Alex will estimate the likely course after examining the area, then review it as you go.
How long before I see a difference?
Think weeks rather than days. The area often looks fuller initially because of swelling, and the body needs time to clear the treated cells. If you need several sessions, the overall change develops across the course. You'll be told when it makes sense to judge your result.
Is the fat reduction permanent?
Fat cells destroyed by treatment are removed, so this is different from a temporary reduction in their size. Your body shape can still change: remaining fat cells can enlarge with weight gain, and skin changes with age. Maintaining a stable weight helps preserve the contour improvement.
Does it hurt, and can I work afterwards?
The injections can sting or feel warm, and the area may be sore afterwards. Many people can carry on with desk work, but a physical job, tight uniform or vigorous exercise may be uncomfortable while it settles. Plan around your actual day rather than assuming no downtime.
Will the skin tighten after the fat dissolves?
It can. The healing response can stimulate collagen and help the skin firm up around the smaller fat pocket, so reducing fat doesn't automatically mean being left with an empty fold of skin. Existing stretch marks, skin looseness and the amount of fat being reduced affect the result. Significant sagging or cellulite may still need separate treatment.
How does it compare with liposuction?
Liposuction can remove larger amounts of fat and make a more substantial change, but involves a surgical procedure and its recovery. Injections may suit a smaller, local pocket when you prefer a gradual approach.
Can I have this before a holiday or wedding?
Yes, if you leave enough time for the course and recovery. This isn't a treatment to squeeze into the week before you travel: swelling may temporarily make the area look bigger. Mention your date at consultation so Dr Alex can advise whether there's enough time for a worthwhile result.
Which fat-dissolving product does Dr Alex use?
Aqualyx is Dr Alex's usual choice for body fat pockets. He generally prefers Celluform+ beneath the chin, based on the comfort, recovery and results he sees in that area. He'll explain the product and course recommended for you; the same choice doesn't have to suit every part of the body.

SONÜ, Hale, Altrincham

Let's look at that stubborn pocket

Book a consultation with Dr Alex to assess the area, discuss the change you'd like and compare your options. You'll get an explanation of the likely course and recovery, so you can decide whether the improvement is worth it for you.

Book a consultation Contact the clinic
SONÜ Medical Aesthetics

34 Hale Road, Hale, Altrincham, WA14 2EX

Doctor-led treatment in a relaxed, private clinic

Close to Hale station and easy to reach from Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire