Alcohol can worsen the side effects of fat dissolving injections, primarily because alcohol affects the body’s metabolism, immune response, and healing processes, which are critical when undergoing any medical or cosmetic procedure. Fat dissolving injections, such as those containing deoxycholic acid (e.g., Kybella), work by breaking down fat cells in targeted areas, leading to inflammation, swelling, and sometimes bruising as part of the normal response. Alcohol consumption can exacerbate these side effects and potentially interfere with the treatment’s effectiveness.
Alcohol is known to impair liver function and slow down the metabolism of various substances in the body. Since the liver plays a key role in processing both alcohol and the byproducts of fat breakdown, drinking alcohol can place additional stress on the liver, potentially delaying the clearance of fat metabolites and inflammatory mediators generated by the injections. This can prolong swelling, redness, and discomfort after treatment.
Moreover, alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning it widens blood vessels and increases blood flow. This can worsen bruising and swelling at the injection sites because more blood flow can lead to greater leakage from damaged capillaries. Increased swelling and bruising can also increase pain and delay recovery.
Alcohol also suppresses the immune system, which is essential for healing after injections. A weakened immune response can slow down the resolution of inflammation and tissue repair, increasing the risk of infection or prolonged side effects.
From a metabolic perspective, alcohol consumption prioritizes the body’s efforts to metabolize alcohol over fat burning. This means that alcohol can slow down the breakdown and removal of fat cells targeted by the injections, potentially reducing the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Additionally, alcohol contains empty calories that can contribute to weight gain or fat accumulation, counteracting the goals of fat dissolving treatments.
While direct clinical studies specifically examining alcohol’s impact on fat dissolving injections are limited, the general medical consensus about alcohol’s effects on inflammation, healing, and metabolism strongly suggests that alcohol consumption should be minimized or avoided around the time of receiving these injections.
Supporting evidence from related fields includes research on alcohol’s impact on liver health and fat metabolism. For example, studies show that alcohol consumption can worsen liver steatosis (fatty liver disease) and impair lipid metabolism, which is relevant because fat dissolving injections rely on the body’s ability to process and eliminate fat breakdown products efficiently [3]. Additionally, alcohol’s role in increasing inflammation and impairing immune function is well documented in medical literature [1].
In the context of weight loss medications that affect fat metabolism and appetite, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Wegovy), alcohol is known to interfere with their benefits by adding extra calories, slowing metabolism, and increasing cardiovascular risks [2]. Although fat dissolving injections are a different modality, the principle that alcohol can counteract fat reduction efforts and worsen side effects applies similarly.
Furthermore, alcohol can increase the likelihood of side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and dehydration when combined with certain injectable treatments or medications that affect metabolism and appetite regulation [4]. This suggests that alcohol may also amplify discomfort or adverse reactions following fat dissolving injections.
In summary, alcohol consumption can worsen the side effects of fat dissolving injections by increasing inflammation, swelling, bruising, and delaying healing. It can also reduce the treatment’s effectiveness by interfering with fat metabolism and adding excess calories. For these reasons, medical professionals generally advise avoiding alcohol before and after receiving fat dissolving injections to ensure optimal results and minimize complications.
Sources:
[1] PMC – Traumatic brain injury exacerbates alcohol consumption and cognitive function
[2] GoodRx – Can You Drink Alcohol While on Wegovy?
[3] PMC – The relationship between changes in alcohol consumption and hepatic steatosis
[4] Voy – Retatrutide and Alcohol: Can You Drink While Taking It?
