Revisiting"minimally invasive lipolysis"

YUAN Jilong; YU Nanze; JIN Mingyu; XIONG Wei; WANG Xiaojun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-7040.2025.10.001

Abstract：Since 2008,minimally invasive lipolysis has undergone revolutionary development in the field of aesthetic surgery.Based on a systematic review of the past 16 years of specialized literature,this review aims to comprehensively evaluate the latest advances in minimally invasive lipolysis technologies.The article first reviews early techniques based on tumescent liposuction,and from this foun-dation,elaborates on the technological innovation and clinical applications of modern energy-based lipolysis devices,covering laser-as-sisted lipolysis(LAL),radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis(RFAL),cryolipolysis,as well as emerging modalities such as high-intensity fo-cused ultrasound(HIFU)and high-intensity focused electromagnetic field(HIFEM).The mechanisms of action,device iterations,clinical indications,efficacy,and safety of each technology are analyzed in detail,with special attention to their additional effects on skin tightening alongside fat cell reduction.Secondly,this review focuses on injection lipolysis,highlighting deoxycholic acid as the first injectable fat re-duction drug approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA)for the treatment of submental fat,its mechanism of action,clinical protocols,and safety data,and clarifies its distinction from traditional"mesotherapy".Finally,the article presents a cross-sectional compar-ison of the various technologies,discusses synergistic strategies for combination treatments,and looks ahead to future trends in intelligent,precise,and multi-effective development.The conclusion states that modern minimally invasive lipolysis now offers diverse techniques,so clinicians should use evidence-based medicine to create personalized treatment plans that maximise safety and body contouring outcomes.