Treatment of aging neck with Lipostabil Endovena.

BACKGROUND: The lower third of the face and neck have distinct changes that occur with aging: the lost of the perfect jaw line due to laxicity of skin and fat deposits associated with "turkey neck." Theses changes can be globally and drastically addressed with traditional rhytidectomy, however patients increasingly seek less invasive procedures. Injections with Lipostabil Endovena-a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate, a bile salt-have been used to reduce unwanted, accumulated fat. Recent in vivo investigations indicate that phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate cause adipocyte lysis, an inflammatory processes and fibrosis. These reactions lead to skin retraction.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the author's experience treating aging neck using Lipostabil Endovena.

RESULTS: Laxity of the skin improved in all patients. A marked reduction in double chins was noted and the jaw line was reconstructed. Adverse effects, including transient burning, erythema and local swelling were present in all patients, but resolved themselves without intervention.

CONCLUSION: The author's clinical experience supports the conclusion that Lipostabil Endovena treats subcutaneous fat tissue and that fibrosis after the inflammatory process retracts the skin, tightening the injected area and improving the aging neck.