Does non-surgical fat removal work? I can’t speak for all the many non invasive method of devices and treatments that are on the market but what I can say is that there are excellent, clinically proven non-surgical fat removal devices available and some that are, well, on the other end of that spectrum. I can, and will, speak for the treatments at Skin to Love and tell if they work or not (with evidence).
When considering body contouring treatments and non-surgical fat removal options, a good starting point is to research what clinics near you are offering and do some further research into those devices; you should soon get the feel for those that are legitimate, well-thought-of treatments and those that are cheap, knockoffs (excuse my bluntness). I’d then suggest going to have a body contouring consultation with a chosen clinic or two.
On to the treatments that we offer at our body contouring clinic. Firstly, know that non-surgical fat removal treatments can work in different ways, and one treatment may be more suitable for you than others; during a consultation, a practitioner should be able to guide you towards the best options for you upon assessment. But let’s not worry too much about that now because what we are looking at is do they work?
What’s In This Blog:
We offer both Desoface and Desobody fat-dissolving injections, but you may hear them simply being referred to as ‘Deso’. We use this treatment for the body as well as for the ‘double’ chin area.
Deso is a brand name for a product which contains an active ingredient called Sodium Deoxycholate, a synthetic form of something called Deoxycholate Acid, let’s call this D.A. for ease, that is naturally present within the human body.
D.A. is a bile acid which softens fat taken into the body so that it can be easily absorbed by your gut. When we apply the synthetic form of D.A. into the fatty layer of our skin via fat-dissolving injections this active ingredient dissolves the targeted fatty deposits and fat cells which are then safely removed from your body by your metabolic system.
Deso fat dissolving additionally contains equisetum and caffeine to work alongside the Sodium Deoxycholate to promote using of lipids (fats) to provide energy for the body and to decongest and drain the blood supply in treated area.
Deso fat dissolving treatments both empty and destroy the treated fat cells. Don’t just take my word for it, below are just a couple of clinical studies showing the efficacy of the treatment.
Fun facts: The synthetic form of D.A., Sodium Deoxycholate, has already been used for decades in many fields of medicine outside of Aesthetic Medicine.
In the States, the most common brand name of treatment they use Sodium Deoxycholate in is called Kybella, so you may see this in some of the clinical studies.
Here are a few clinical studies which discuss the efficacy of the Deso Fat Dissolving technology: LINK, LINK
Recently named Best Muscle Toner and Fat Reducer New Beauty Awards, the Emsculpt Neo is the latest, and greatest, device in the BTL Emsculpt range of non-invasive fat removal devices; Emsculpt being the original device.
Unlike other body sculpting devices, Emsculpt Neo is two treatments in one: removing fat and toning the underlying muscle at the same time, with clinical studies showing an average of 30% fat loss and a 25% increase in muscle in your treated areas.
Emsculpt Neo uses a combination of two technologies to achieve your results, HIFEM and Radio Frequency.
HIFEM stimulates targeted muscles with a magnetic field to perform 20,000 muscle contractions during the 30-minute Emsculpt Neo treatment. These ‘crunches’ are completely involuntary so don’t require any hard work from you, phew, and override your natural limitations by using 100% of your muscle fibres, rather than the 35% we can only ever use on our own.
This action results in quick, safe, and precise muscle growth and strength. As you can imagine, this drug-free, safe treatment is a favourite amongst professional athletes including Amir Khan, multiple NFL players, Olympians, and the US women’s football (soccer) team.
The Emsculpt Neo also includes Radio Frequency technology to reduce fat in the treatment area safely by bringing the fat cells to a specific temperature which brings about the death of those targeted cells, without damaging those surrounding them.
Radiofrequency technology is a unique aspect of the Neo and an upgrade from the original Emsculpt which only uses HIFEM technology to eliminate excess fat and cells. The HIFEM technology found in both Emsculpt and the Emsculpt Neo will cause some degeneration of cells via intense muscle movements, however, fat removal is supercharged with the Neo’s Radio Frequency use.
The Emsculpt technology has been used, not only by athletes but by celebrities to body contour and strengthens their bodies. These include JLo, Kim K, and Drew Barrymore (who also loves our Clear and Brilliant laser treatment for her skin).
Here are a few clinical studies which discuss the efficacy of the Emsculpt technology: LINK, LINK, LINK
The Cristal treatment by Deleo is one of our ‘go-to’ treatments when the concern is more ‘bulky’ pockets of fat; please don’t be offended by the term ‘bulky’ if your practitioner matches you with the Cristal treatment, this is most suitable for the majority of clients we see, and it doesn’t insinuate obesity. I’ve had Cristal myself on my ‘bulkier’ areas!
Cristal uses medical-grade cryolipolysis (freezing), to quickly cool targeted fat cells to cause their death, meaning that not only are the treated fat cells emptied they are also removed entirely from the body so they cannot refill again.
Once treated, your body safely and gradually removes the dead fat cells via your waste system, revealing your results over a 4-to-10-week period after your treatment.
Medical cryolipolysis has been used in Aesthetic Medicine for a long time and here are a few of the many studies on this non-surgical fat removal technology: LINK, LINK
Liposonix is our OG when it comes to body contouring and non-surgical fat removal. As with each of the previously mentioned treatments, Liposonix again uses an entirely different type of technology; HIFU.
HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound. You may have heard of ‘ultrasound’ before, but this is focused on the depth of the fatty layer and, you guessed it, intense. What does this actually mean though? Well, in short, the HIFU energy destroys the unwanted fat cells you want to target during your Liposonix treatment, without damaging any surrounding tissue.
As with the other non-surgical fat removal treatments mentioned above, this treatment also lets your body gradually (and safely) remove the treated fat cells, revealing a more contoured figure.
Lipsonix has been used in Aesthetic Medicine for a long time and here are a few of the many studies on this non-surgical fat removal technology: LINK, LINK
As you can see, these non-surgical fat removal treatments have clinical evidence of their efficacy and safety, however, it can be very difficult to know which treatment is right for you and what you’d like to achieve. At our Hertfordshire clinic, we start your decision process with a full consultation and assessment of the area(s) you’re considering having treated. During this consultation, we will discuss the most appropriate treatment options with you so that you can make an informed choice about your treatment and if it’s something you’d like to pursue. You can contact us here to arrange a non-surgical fat removal consultation.
Let’s start at the very beginning. You may see non-surgical fat removal described as body scuplting, non-invasive fat removal, non-surgical weight loss, fat reduction procedures, silhouette shaping, or body shaping- but they’re talking about the same thing. They are referring to a professional treatment either using injections or a treatment device.
The key to getting the best out of a body fat reduction treatment is a consultation. At our clinic, we will assess the area you would like to treat and match you with the most suitable treatment for your desires, the amount of fat in the area, the area you wish to be treated, and go through your medical history to ensure that the chosen body fat reduction treatment is a healthy lifestyle safe option for you.
We will also discuss your expectations of the treatment and give you an understanding of what you may be able to achieve with body fat reduction during your consultation. This is important because if you are expecting a 90% reduction in fat, but your treatment averages approximately an average 30% reduction, when you start seeing your results you may think the treatment hasn’t worked.
Your treatment may have worked beautifully… you may have exceeded the average fat reduction, but if you’re expectations and the type of results that non-surgical fat reduction offers don’t match, you’re probably going to be disappointed.
Be honest with your practitioner about what you want to achieve from the start; their goal is to get you good results, safely. If you want most of your fat removed then they may discuss a surgical procedure for fat reduction with you and/or the possibility of you having multiple treatment sessions, rather than just a single session, to accumulate more dramatic results.
With all that said, at Skin to Love we only ever onboard non-surgical fat reduction devices that use technology that is well-researched and have clinical studies evidencing their claims. Equally, we have enough experience to be able to match the right candidate with each of our devices.
This is fat that sits under the skin rather than deep down around your organs. It’s found all over our bodies and we all have areas where we tend to ‘hold’ this type of fat more readily; thighs, bum, upper arms… for me, it’s my stomach and, as you’re reading this, I’m guessing that it’s probably the same for you.
Although visceral fat is deemed the ‘life-threatening fat’, excessive stubborn fat also has health implications; obesity, heart disease and diabetes are all risks.
After you have chosen a treatment to destroy fat cells that wont budge, whether you have chosen a non-surgical liposuction treatment or a surgical liposuction treatment to eliminate fat cells, you will need to maintain a healthy diet. We prefer non-surgical liposuction as these non-invasive treatments allow you to resume normal activities immediately and are kinder on your body, when compared to traditional liposuction, even those advertised as ‘minimally invasive treatments’.
Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.
Written by clinic co-founder Kerri Lewis | Medically reviewed by Nurse Jane Lewis, RN | The Skin to Love Clinic, St. Albans | CQC regulated | Save Face accredited | HydraFacial verified provider | Published September 2026. The difference between a facial and a HydraFacial isn’t just the products and ingredients used. It’s how they […]
18 Sep 2026
Written by Kerri Lewis, Co-founder | Medically reviewed by Nurse Jane Lewis RN, The Skin to Love Clinic, St. Albans | CQC regulated | Save Face accredited | Published September 2026. That mark on your chest. The small rough patch on the back of your hand. The little bump just below your hairline that looks […]
10 Sep 2026
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