How long do fat-dissolving injections last?
There is no single duration: the ingredients in contour injections differ between clinics. In a trial of deoxycholic acid approved in the US for submental fat, improvement was assessed 12 weeks after the last treatment.
Korea’s National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) found that the literature did not establish clear fat-reduction effects. Consider the ingredients, injection area and duration studied.
Experiences with ingredients and timing
스테로이드 많이 들어있는 지방분해주사나 윤곽주사는 효과는 좋지만 부작용이 있다해서 최대한 성분 착한 곳으로 결정했습니다ㅠㅠ 저는 스테없는 암살주사로 시술 받았고 이중턱이랑 심부볼, 볼살 위주로 상담받았는데... 마취를 했기 때문에 시술도 별로 안아팠어요!!
Gangnam Unni, posted February 10, 2026. Excerpt about choosing a treatment after comparing ingredients. English translation: I heard that fat-dissolving or contour injections with a lot of steroids work well but have side effects, so I chose a place with gentler ingredients. I had the steroid-free Amsal injection and consulted about my double chin, deep cheek fat and cheeks. Because I had anesthesia, the treatment did not hurt much.
지방분해주사 효과는 2주 됐을 때 확 느껴지구요! 여러번 받을수록 얼굴은 점점 더 갸름해져요ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Babitalk, posted October 14, 2026; rating 5. Excerpt about when an effect was noticed. English translation: I really noticed the effect of the fat-dissolving injection at two weeks! The more times I get it, the slimmer my face becomes.
Can they be injected in the face, under the chin or on the body?
Approved treatment areas depend on the product. US FDA-approved Kybella is indicated for submental fat in adults; this approval does not automatically apply to other products in Korea.
The FDA identified 129 adverse-event reports after deoxycholic acid was used outside the submental area. These included visual disturbances after injections near the eyes and facial muscle or nerve injuries.
How can I check the ingredients before treatment?
Ask for the actual drug name, dose and treatment area. Injections marketed under the same name may contain different ingredients.
Uline Clinic states that its treatment does not contain steroids or PPC. Ask about the actual ingredients and dose during your consultation.
Modoodoc lists prices from KRW 9,700 to 220,000, averaging KRW 74,952. Gangnam Unni and Babitalk reviews each report a payment of KRW 165,000 at Dress Plastic Surgery Clinic.
| Source | Price |
|---|---|
| Modoodoc (164 dermatology clinics) | KRW 9,700–220,000; mean KRW 74,952 |
| Dress Plastic Surgery Clinic (review receipts) | KRW 165,000 (reviewed payment) |
| Uline Clinic (official website) | Discussed at consultation |
Modoodoc prices are based on member reviews and its own research as of October 2026. The Dress Clinic amount is an individual payment reported in reviews and may differ from the current price.
How common are side effects?
Swelling, bruising, pain and changes in sensation can occur after treatment. The table shows rates from US Kybella trials for submental fat; they cannot be applied directly to injections with other ingredients.
Among 307 Babitalk reviews examined, 56 mentioned swelling, 15 bruising and 13 pain. These mentions are not incidence rates.
| Symptom | Clinical-trial reporting rate |
|---|---|
| Swelling | About 87% |
| Bruising | About 72% |
| Pain | About 70% |
| Numbness | About 66% |
| Injection-site hardening | About 23% |
Experience of swelling and additional charges
이벤트가는 1cc로 써놓고 최소 6cc는 맞아야된대서 추가결제했어요ㅠ 이럴거면 처음부터 6cc는 맞아야된다고 써주시지ㅜ... 주사 맞저마자 당일에는 붓기 너무 심해서 일상생활 불가입니다.. 효과는 아직 잘 모르게ㅛ어요
Gangnam Unni, posted July 22, 2026; rating 6. Excerpt about an additional charge and same-day swelling. English translation: The promotion listed a price for 1 cc, but they said I needed at least 6 cc, so I paid extra. I wish they had said that from the beginning. The swelling was so bad on the day of the injection that I could not go about my day. I do not know about the result yet.
What serious complications, such as nerve injury, can occur?
Seek medical attention immediately if a corner of your mouth droops or swallowing becomes difficult after treatment. Nerve injury and difficulty swallowing have been reported following submental deoxycholic acid injections.
The FDA also reported serious events, including facial weakness and vision changes, after injections outside the submental area. Seek prompt care for neurological symptoms regardless of the injection site.
- When to seek care immediately
- Seek immediate care if one corner of the mouth droops or cannot move when smiling, swallowing is difficult, skin turns black or develops blisters or ulcers, or vision blurs or worsens.
Why does knowing the ingredients matter?
The name “contour injection” alone does not establish safety or effectiveness. NECA reports that practitioners use their own judgment without clear standards for ingredients, mixing ratios, site-specific doses, treatment number or intervals.
Repeated or excessive exposure to steroid-containing injections can thin the skin or make blood vessels more visible. Ask about the ingredients and dose before treatment.
- Ingredient and dose
- Ask for the actual ingredients: whether the injection contains deoxycholic acid or steroids, or is mixed by the clinic.
- Approval
- Ask for the product name, approved use and treatment area. US FDA and Korean regulatory approvals apply to specific products.
- Repeat treatments
- Avoid repeated injections when the effect is unclear; ask beforehand how many sessions are recommended.
What should I do before and after treatment?
Tell your clinician about your medicines and medical conditions before treatment. Ask about aftercare and when to resume exercise for the drug and area treated.
- Medicines
- Disclose medicines and supplements that increase bleeding risk. Discuss stopping prescribed medicines with the prescribing clinician.
- Treatment area
- Ask your clinic when massage, pressure and exercise can be resumed.
What should I check in my situation?
The questions to ask depend on the area you want treated and how quickly you expect results.
- Submental fat
- Ask about ingredients, Korean approval and the number of sessions.
- Around the eyes or outside the chin
- Ask whether the product is approved for that area and how complications such as nerve injury are managed.
- Seeking quick results
- Ask about steroids or other ingredients, and how reduced swelling is distinguished from actual fat loss.
- Concerned about side effects
- Consider clinics that disclose ingredients and doses, and ask how nerve injuries are managed.
How should I assess effects and side effects?
The effects and duration depend on the ingredients and treatment area.
Ask about the drug and dose before treatment. Seek immediate care for a drooping mouth, difficulty swallowing or vision changes.
Frequently asked questions
Are contour injections and fat-dissolving injections the same?
The terms are often used interchangeably but are not standardized. Ingredients vary, from deoxycholic acid to mixtures containing steroids.
Are results permanent?
Duration varies by product and injection site. Evidence is insufficient to establish long-term effects of mixed contour injections.
Are steroids always harmful?
Steroids are not inherently always dangerous, but repeated or excessive exposure can thin skin or make blood vessels more visible. Ask about the ingredients.
Are swelling and bruising always harmless?
They can occur after treatment. Seek immediate care for worsening pain, a drooping mouth, difficulty swallowing or vision changes.
How should I compare prices?
Compare the product, dose, VAT and extra treatment costs on the same terms. A price in a review may differ from the current price.
Is treatment outside the chin safe?
US FDA-approved Kybella is indicated for adult submental fat. Check the local approval and discuss the specific product and area with your clinician.
How many sessions are needed?
Plans vary by product and site. Ask about ingredients, the recommended number of sessions and the cost per session.
Sources and review dates
- Babitalk: contour and facial injection reviewsChecked on
- Gangnam Unni: contour injection reviewsChecked on
- US FDA: 2026 warning on deoxycholic acid injectionsChecked on
- NECA: 2024 public information on injection lipolysisChecked on
- Humphrey et al.: REFINE-2 deoxycholic acid trial, PMID 27430612Checked on
- US FDA: Kybella prescribing information and adverse reactionsChecked on
- Uline Clinic: information on Cut Injection ingredientsChecked on
- Dress Plastic Surgery Clinic: payment experiences in reviewsChecked on
- Modoodoc: contour injection price surveyChecked on
Editorial responsibility and relationships
The Gangnam Beauty Check editorial team consulted clinic information and reviews and prices on Gangnam Unni, Babitalk and Modoodoc. Review prices are individual payments and are distinct from official clinic prices. No medical review, paid advertising or affiliate links.
Medical review: None
This article is for information and does not replace an individual diagnosis or medical consultation.