Melting Cut is VEI Clinic's fat-dissolving injection. It is a non-surgical treatment that places medication in small doses into subcutaneous fat on the arms, abdomen, thighs and calves, with the aim of thinning the fat layer in that area. In a private room, we check the area and fat thickness at consultation and then set the dose and number of sessions.
A non-surgical procedure that injects medication into subcutaneous fat.
Areas
Arms, abdomen, thighs and calves. The face, such as the jawline and cheeks, is treated separately with Small Fit.
When it is not suitable
If muscle is the main cause, as often in the calves, we do not recommend the injection; if sagging outweighs fat, we discuss firming treatment as well.
Ingredients
Prescribed without PPC, steroids or hyaluronidase.
Results and sessions
Changes appear over several weeks, and most people have several sessions spaced apart.
Swelling and bruising
Temporary bruising, swelling or an allergic reaction may occur depending on the person.
Cost
We set the area and dose at consultation and explain the cost together with ingredients and sessions before treatment.
Location
In a private room at VEI Clinic, 1 minute from Apgujeong Station Exit 5 (Sinsa-dong, Gangnam), after a one-to-one consultation.
VEI Melting Cut
Fatreductioninjectionresults:VEIMeltingCut
VEI Melting Cut is a fat-dissolving injection that aims to reduce the subcutaneous fat layer to refine the circumference and contour of the arms, abdomen and thighs. How much changes depends on the area and the thickness of the fat.
01
Injected into the fat under the skin
Thinner fat in the treated area
Aims to reduce the thickness of subcutaneous fat and the circumference of the area with injections rather than surgery.
02
Where cellulite is present
The fat layer under cellulite
It does not remove cellulite itself. It is used to reduce the fat layer where the fat beneath the cellulite is thick.
Possible side effects: temporary bruising, swelling or allergic reactions may occur, and individual responses vary.
Fat Dissolving Injection
Fatreductioninjections:whattoknowfirst
Results vary with the ingredients, the area treated and the number of sessions.
What is a fat reduction injection?
A fat reduction injection is a nonsurgical treatment in which medication is injected into the fat layer under the skin (subcutaneous fat) to reduce fat cells. How it works depends on the ingredients. With ingredients that damage fat cells, the body's immune cells clear the damaged cells over several weeks and the fat layer becomes thinner.
Because it involves injections rather than incisions or suction, treatment is quick and most people return to their normal routine the same day. There is a limit to how much fat can be reduced at once, so for thick fat over a large area we discuss combining other options.
Because it works by destroying fat cells and reducing their number, it is sometimes called a fat-destroying injection. Body fat-dissolving injections for the upper arms, abdomen, and thighs cover a larger area than facial injections, so the medication is spread across several points even within one area.
When will I see results, and how many sessions will I need?
It takes time for the body to clear fat cells, so changes appear gradually over several weeks rather than right after treatment. Most people need several sessions spaced apart rather than a single one.
We set the number of sessions and the interval at your consultation, based on fat thickness, the change you want and how you responded to any previous treatment. Even at the same dose, results differ from person to person.
How do the ingredients and types differ?
Fat reduction injections are grouped by their ingredients. Formulations vary from clinic to clinic, including deoxycholic acid types that dissolve fat cell membranes, phosphatidylcholine (PPC) types and mixtures that add a steroid to reduce swelling.
Injections sold under the same name differ in formulation from clinic to clinic, so check which drug is used, where, and how much before treatment. We explain the names, ingredients and approval status of the drugs used in VEI Melting Cut at your consultation.
Fat-dissolving injections can also be grouped by how they work. Some ingredients damage the fat cell membrane directly and reduce the number of cells, others help break down the fat stored inside the cells, and some formulas combine several fat-dissolving agents. Others, such as HPL fat-dissolving injections, are named for the injection technique rather than the drug: a large volume of hypotonic solution is injected with the aim of swelling the fat cells until they burst.
Some people picture a pill when they hear about fat-dissolving medication, but no oral medication can target fat in one specific area. The ingredients in a fat-dissolving injection act on the fat under the skin where they are injected, which is a different goal from weight-loss medications that lower overall body weight.
Will it reduce visceral fat or body weight?
Fat reduction injections go into subcutaneous fat, so they do not reach the visceral fat that sits between the organs. If most of your belly fat is visceral, diet, exercise and medical weight management come before injections.
It does not break down body fat across the whole body or bring large weight loss either. The aim is to refine the circumference and contour of a specific area, and checking body fat and estimated visceral fat with an InBody body composition test first makes it easier to choose a direction.
Your body breaks down stored fat when it uses more energy than it takes in, and visceral fat is reduced the same way as your weight comes down. If your weight calls for obesity treatment, prescription weight-loss injections can be considered at your visit.
How is it different from liposuction or ultrasound and cooling fat reduction?
Liposuction is surgery that removes fat directly through a thin tube inserted via a small incision. It removes more fat at once but needs anesthesia and recovery time. Injections reduce fat cells with medication and no incision, so each session brings a smaller change and treatment is spread over several sessions.
Ultrasound fat reduction is a device treatment that focuses ultrasound energy into the fat layer from outside the skin to destroy fat cells, and cooling fat reduction chills the fat layer to reduce fat cells, which are sensitive to cold. Both differ from injections in that no drug is delivered by needle.
At VEI Clinic, our ultrasound device treatment is TuneBody (Accent Prime). Whether injections, a device, or both suit you is decided at your consultation based on fat thickness, area, and skin elasticity.
Fat thickness and skin firmness differ from one area to another, so we plan the injection area and dose for each.
Upper arms
Fat tends to collect on the back of the upper arm. We first check whether the fat itself is thick or whether loose skin is also involved. When sagging matters more than fat, injections alone make little difference, so we discuss adding a firming treatment.
Pinchable belly fat, such as on the lower abdomen and flanks, is what the injection treats. Because the shape of the belly alone cannot show how much visceral fat there is, we also refer to an examination and the visceral fat estimate from a body composition test.
The inner and outer thighs and the area above the knee often have both fat and cellulite. Because the area is large, we plan it in sections, and when cellulite is prominent we may also recommend circulation care such as Endermologie.
Calves are often thicker because of muscle rather than fat, so we examine them first. Fat-dissolving injections do not reduce muscle, so if muscle is the main cause, we do not recommend injections.
Back fat around the bra line and the fullness beside the underarm show through clothing. Underarm fullness can contain breast tissue, so we first confirm that it is fat.
Jaw, cheekbones, nose: the face
Facial fat, such as under the chin, along the jawline and beside the cheekbones, sits in small areas close to nerves, so we plan a different dose than for the body. Facial fat reduction injections are offered separately as Small Fit.
Before treatment, we explain the name, ingredients and approval status of the medication we use.
Point #02Care to maintain the change
Remaining fat cells can grow again with weight gain, so we guide you on diet and daily habits to help the change last.
Point #03Personalized treatment
After assessing fat thickness and skin laxity area by area, we set the range and dose for you.
Point #04Private treatment rooms
Every treatment room at VEI Clinic is private.
VEI Melting Cut
Fatreductioninjectionstreatmentsteps
VEI Melting Cut begins with a one-to-one consultation that checks the area and fat thickness, followed by a plan tailored to you.
Step 01
An in-depth consultation to understand your concerns and health
Step 02
A treatment plan based on the area and fat thickness
Step 03
Your treatment session
VEI Melting Cut
Fatreductioninjections: whomaybenefit?
Pinchable fat
For soft fat you can pinch under the skin
An area, not weight
For refining the circumference of one area rather than losing weight
A nonsurgical option
For those who find surgery such as liposuction a burden and want to look into injections first
VEI Package
4·8·12PROGRAM
The 4·8·12 program is a weight management course of about six months in which we review your diet and exercise with you. Check-ins are frequent at first and then spaced further apart.
First 4 weeksDaily check-ins during the intensive phase.
Next 8 weeksWeekly follow-ups.
Final 12 weeksMonthly follow-ups to support your progress.
Cost & Aftercare
Cost,swellingandprecautions
Cost of fat reduction injections
The cost depends on the number of areas, their size, the thickness of the fat and the number of sessions needed. Even for the same area, such as the upper arms, the dose differs from person to person, so we confirm the areas and sessions at your consultation and give you the total cost before you decide. For pricing questions, call +82 2 542 8275 or message us on KakaoTalk.
Swelling, bruising and recovery
Swelling, bruising, soreness and redness can appear at the injection sites. They usually settle within a few days to two weeks, but lumps you can feel or reduced sensation can last longer. Skin damage, infection or nerve injury can rarely occur, so if symptoms are severe or persist, contact the clinic right away.
Other possible side effects include itching, warmth, and a feeling of skin tightness at the injection site. If the swelling does not go down after a few days or gets worse, or if the area keeps getting hotter and you see pus, it may be an infection, so please get seen right away.
Before and after treatment
Please tell us before treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have inflammation or a wound at the treatment site, bleed easily or take blood-thinning medication. We will advise you at your consultation when to resume exercise, alcohol and saunas, depending on the area and dose.
Keeping your results
How long results last depends on the ingredients and your lifestyle, and the remaining fat cells can grow again if you gain weight. Keeping your results means continuing with diet and lifestyle care, and our 4·8·12 program supports you along the way.
FAQ
FatreductioninjectionsFAQ
Do fat reduction injections work?
They aim to reduce fat thickness and circumference in a specific area. Changes appear over several weeks, the amount of change depends on the area and the thickness of the fat, and it may be smaller than you hope. They are not intended for weight loss or for reducing visceral fat.
How many sessions will I need, and how far apart?
Most people need several sessions spaced apart rather than a single one. We set the number of sessions and the interval at your consultation, based on fat thickness and how you responded to previous treatment.
Can I have my arms, abdomen and thighs treated at the same visit?
Several areas can be planned together, but we sometimes split them across visits to keep the total dose at each visit in check. We will set the order starting with the area you most want to address.
How much do fat reduction injections cost?
The cost depends on the number of areas, their size, fat thickness and the number of sessions, so we give you the total after your consultation. You can also ask first by calling +82 2 542 8275 or messaging us on KakaoTalk.
How long do swelling and bruising last?
Swelling and bruising at the injection sites usually settle within a few days to two weeks. If lumps or reduced sensation persist, or pain gets worse, contact the clinic right away.
What is in Melting Cut injections?
We do not use PPC, steroids or hyaluronidase. We explain the name of the medication, its ingredients and precautions in person at your consultation.
How is a steroid-free fat-dissolving injection different?
It is a formulation without the steroid that is sometimes added to make swelling go down faster after the procedure. When steroid-containing injections are repeated in the same spot at short intervals, the skin can thin or form a dent. Swelling, bruising and soreness can still occur without a steroid.
Will it work if my belly fat is visceral fat?
Fat reduction injections go into subcutaneous fat and do not reach visceral fat. We first assess it with an examination and the estimated visceral fat level from an InBody body composition test, and if most of the fat is visceral we recommend diet, exercise and a medical weight management consultation first.
Will a body fat-dissolving injection lower my body fat percentage on an InBody scan?
Because the injection reduces subcutaneous fat only in the treated area, your whole-body fat percentage measured by InBody may not change much. Changes are better judged by the circumference of that area and the thickness of fat you can pinch than by body fat percentage.
How is it different from liposuction or ultrasound and cooling fat reduction?
Liposuction is surgery that removes fat directly through an incision, while ultrasound and cooling fat reduction use device energy to reduce fat cells without needles. Injections reduce fat cells with medication, so each session brings a smaller change but recovery is quick. VEI Clinic's ultrasound device treatment is TuneBody, and the right method is decided at your consultation.
How is radiofrequency fat reduction different from injections?
Radiofrequency fat reduction uses a device placed on the skin to deliver radiofrequency energy that heats the fat layer, while an injection places medication directly into the subcutaneous fat. The heated area may turn red or feel hot, and blisters or burns can occur in rare cases. One of the handpieces on VEI Clinic's Tune Body works this way, and we sometimes discuss it alongside injections when skin laxity or cellulite is also a concern.
Is a fat extraction injection a type of fat-dissolving injection?
What is known as a fat extraction injection usually involves local anesthesia and a thin tube inserted through a small opening to draw fat out of the body, so it is a different procedure from a fat-dissolving injection, which delivers medication. Because it resembles small-area liposuction, it involves anesthesia and wound care.
Can facial fat, such as on the chin or cheekbones, be treated?
Facial fat reduction injections are offered separately as Small Fit. Facial areas are small and close to nerves, so we plan a different dose than for the body.
Can fat-dissolving injections treat a heavier lower body?
The right approach depends on what contributes most to a heavier lower body: subcutaneous fat in the thighs and inner knees, well-developed calf muscles, or leg swelling that gets worse every evening. Fat-dissolving injections address only the subcutaneous fat, so we first examine you to sort out the cause. If your legs swell often, we check the cause of the swelling first and may discuss VACUMED negative pressure therapy, which targets lower-body circulation.
Where does the fat go after a fat-melting injection?
Despite the word "melting," the treated fat does not disappear on the spot. Over several weeks, immune cells such as macrophages clear away the damaged fat cells and the fat released from them, and your body metabolizes it like any other fat. This is also why Melting Cut results are judged several weeks after treatment rather than right away.
Are fat-dissolving injections done the same way for men?
The principle and the process are the same. Men often carry fat around the belly and flanks, so those areas are usually the focus, and the dose and number of sessions depend on how thick and widespread the fat is rather than on sex.
Can I see before-and-after photos?
We show before-and-after photos in person during your consultation. Results vary from person to person.
BackUnderarm areaArmsAbdomenThighsInner kneesCalves
