Subcutaneous Phosphatidylcholine Dosing
The recommended dose for subcutaneous phosphatidylcholine injections is 250 mg/mL (50 mg/mL in some protocols), with volumes ranging from 0.4 mL to several milliliters per treatment site, administered at intervals of 1-2 weeks between sessions. 1, 2, 3
Standard Dosing Protocol
Concentration and Volume
- Primary concentration used: 250 mg/mL phosphatidylcholine 3
- Alternative lower concentration: 50 mg/mL for sensitive areas like infraorbital fat 2
- Volume per injection site: 0.4 mL for small areas (e.g., lower eyelid fat pads) 2
- Larger treatment areas may require multiple injection sites with higher total volumes 1, 3
Treatment Intervals
- Minimum interval between treatments: 1 week 3
- Standard interval: 2 weeks (mean interval of 15 days) 2, 3
- Total number of treatments typically ranges from 3-5 sessions 2
Administration Technique
Injection Method
- Inject directly into subcutaneous fat tissue 1, 3
- Multiple injection sites may be used for larger treatment areas 3
- The injection should target localized fat deposits specifically 1, 4
Treatment Areas
- Commonly treated regions: infraorbital fat pads, localized subcutaneous fat deposits on face and body 1, 2
- Avoid areas where tissue damage risk is elevated 4
Expected Adverse Effects
Local Reactions (Very Common)
- Swelling, erythema, burning/stinging, pain, tenderness, and bruising occur in most patients 1, 2
- Most patients describe these as "very mild" (18.4%) or "mild" (39.2%) 1
- These effects are self-limiting and expected 1, 2
Systemic Effects (Uncommon)
- Total incidence of systemic side effects: 3% 1
- Includes diarrhea, nausea, dizziness/light-headedness 1
- Most systemic effects described as "very mild" (36%) or "mild" (55%) 1
Safety Profile
Serious Adverse Events
- Only 0.14% of treatments resulted in unexpected, unusually severe or prolonged adverse reactions 1
- All serious reactions were self-limiting with no permanent sequelae 1
- The treatment appears safe when administered by specifically trained physicians 1, 3
Clinical Efficacy
Response Rates
- 70-80% of patients report improvement in fat reduction 2
- 60% of patients achieve ≥5-point improvement on a 10-point scale 2
- Patient satisfaction: 73.8% report being "very satisfied" or "satisfied" 1
Duration of Effect
- At 9-month follow-up: 50% maintain persistent benefit, 20% experience some fading, 30% are non-responders 2
Mechanism Considerations
Phosphatidylcholine alone induces lipolysis through upregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and downregulation of perilipin and PPARγ 5. This distinguishes it from deoxycholic acid, which causes tissue damage rather than true lipolysis 5.