The Lemon Bottle fat dissolving treatment claims to deliver targeted fat loss as an alternative to other lipolysis injections, but experts have raised concerns.
People are using social media to share their results after having the treatment for fat removal on specific areas such as double chins, upper arms and "love handles".
Certain salons and clinics are also conducting real-time demonstrations where they infuse the product into high-fat food to show the outcomes.
However, some medical professionals have raised questions about the Lemon Bottle treatment.
Mr Arturo Almeida, a consultant surgeon and renowned specialist in fat-dissolving procedures, expresses caution about the risks that social media fads may present to the safety of consumers.
“Social media platforms have become the new way to release products into the marketplace, and Lemon Bottle is no exception," Mr Almeida comments.
"People love new shiny objects, as they love belonging to a new trend. We quickly adopt these new products if they are endorsed by celebrities and influencers, as we take their word as social proof.”
Does lemon bottle fat dissolving work?
Some medical professionals are sceptical about Lemon Bottle fat dissolving side effects because of the ingredients.
Mr Almeida explains, “They claim it doesn’t have the same effects as traditional fat-dissolving agents because it does not contain deoxycholic acid, but it contains lecithin, a substance commonly found in well-known brands of fat-dissolving agents. Therefore, it’s not so different from them.
“On top of that, Lemon Bottle adds riboflavin (vitamin B2) and bromelain as key components, claiming that they ‘activate fat metabolism and help to break down the fat’, which is not, by any means, accurate.
"There is no scientific data that backs up its effects, as is the case for deoxycholic acid-containing agents, which are well researched.”
Chemical engineer, product formulator, and founder of Skin Masterclass, Cigdem Kemal Yilmaz, shares her concerns about Lemon Bottle fat dissolving injections and their quick rise to internet fame.
“Lemon Bottle may be TikTok’s latest beauty trend, but the brand’s website is sadly lacking in any robust clinical evidence and safety data that supports efficacy and safety claims, making it difficult for medical professionals to assess its overall effectiveness.
"For example, there is no ingredient (INCI) list available on the website, nor any credible scientific evidence available to support the idea that riboflavin (vitamin B2) acts as a fat-dissolving solution.”
The only ingredient mentioned in the Lemon Bottle injection on the company's website is riboflavin, with a footnote referring to "premium ingredients".
The 'details' and 'information' drop-down menus on the product's webpage continue to display placeholder text, and despite having a testimonials section, there are no customer reviews available.
Is lemon bottle fat dissolving safe?
Some beauty and aesthetics professionals have been leveraging their social media platforms to express their worries about the product, particularly the absence of sufficient testing and clinical trials.
Dr Dean Rhobaye, the medical director at Élan Laser Clinics, shares his concerns: “It is essential to approach fat-dissolving treatments with caution. A particular concern with Lemon Bottle is the lack of robust clinical evidence and long-term safety studies.
“While some clinical trials have been conducted, many experts argue that more research is needed to fully understand the potential risks."
Dr Rhobaye adds, "Lemon Bottle is advertised as a combination of natural ingredients with modern science, however, there are no references to clinical studies on the company website.
"It is therefore difficult to assess the manufacturer’s claims.”
Despite the absence of clinical evidence or a CE mark certification, the product's website asserts that it is "100% safe".
Who can use Lemon Bottle?
It appears that Lemon Bottle can be bought by anyone, including non-professionals, with the company's website listing a single vial for only £28.
“It appears to be available for anyone to purchase and administer at a very low price, instead of being limited to use by qualified and experienced medical practitioners,” explains Yilmaz.
“This not only allows a full and frank discussion about safety and efficacy but also facilitates discussions about the client’s expectations.
"Given the lack of the aforementioned information, I would suggest that practitioners and clients proceed with extreme caution before experimenting with this treatment until robust clinical safety and efficacy data is widely available.”
Mr Almeida is also concerned about the non-surgical terms encouraging patients to administer their fat-loss treatments: “When we talk about products with potential side effects, that are to be injected in the body, being performed by non-qualified people, it’s slightly scary.
"On top of that, the ‘nonsurgical’ term may mislead people and make them do this treatment themselves, without being assessed by a medical professional.
“My advice is simple; don’t take everything posted on social media as an irrefutable truth, even if it comes from very well-known people.
"Do your research and ask for the science behind these products,” Almeida concludes.
Article originally published in Aesthetic Medicine.
