Early Experience in 100 Consecutive Patients With Injection Adipocytolysis for Neck Contouring With ATX-101 (Deoxycholic Acid)

BACKGROUND Deoxycholic acid (DCA) is approved for improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat. OBJECTIVE To assess early treatment experience with DCA injection in a clinical practice setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this single-center, prospective, single-arm, observational study, 100 consecutive patients seeking to decrease submental fullness received subcutaneous DCA (2 mg/cm(2)) injections in the submental area (maximum of 6 sessions at >= 1 month intervals). Treatment response was assessed 1 and 5 to 7 weeks posttreatment using the clinician-reported submental fat rating scale (CR-SMFRS) and retrospective independent photograph review by 2 physicians. RESULTS Overall, 100 patients had 152 treatment sessions (58, 33, 8, and 1 patients had 1, 2, 3, and 4 sessions, respectively). CR-SMFRS score improved by >= 1 point from baseline in 88 (88%) patients; of these, 46, 33, 8, and 1 patients had 1, 2, 3, and 4 sessions, respectively. Local edema, numbness, and tenderness were reported for a mean (SD) of 7.7 (5.3), 28.5 (11.4), and 3.5 (3.5) days, respectively. Two patients experienced marginal mandibular nerve paresis. CONCLUSION Deoxycholic acid injection, a minimally invasive procedure for neck contouring, was effective and generally well tolerated in the private practice setting.