Trend Spotlight: Lemon Bottle

This lipolysis treatment is taking social media by storm, but what are the risks?

‘Lemon Bottle’ is a new injectable fat-dissolving treatment for the face and body, which claims to deliver targeted fat loss as a more natural alternative to other lipolysis, producing minimal swelling and pain.

Patients have been taking to social media to share their results, along with some clinics sharing ‘live experiments’ in which the product is injected into fatty food products to show the results.

Mr Arturo Almeida, consultant surgeon and leading expert in fat-dissolving treatments, is wary of the dangers that social media trends can pose to patient safety.

“Social media platforms have become the new way to release products into the marketplace, and Lemon Bottle is no exception. 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.”

CONCERNS

On the other hand, some clinics have been utilising their social platforms to share concerns about the product, specifically the lack of testing and clinical trials available.

Medical director of Élan Laser Clinics, Dr Dean Rhobaye, shares his reservations: “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. 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.”

The product’s website claims to be ‘100% safe’, despite a lack of clinical proof or certification like a CE mark.

INGREDIENTS

Mr Almeida is sceptical about some of the product’s ingredients: “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 the product and its 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 listed under the product on Lemon Bottle’s website is riboflavin, and a note about ‘premium ingredients’ is in the footer. The drop-down ‘details’ and ‘information’ tabs on the product’s website still use filler text, and there are no reviews, despite the existence of a testimonials tab.

LOW PRICE POINT

“Additionally, 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” adds Yilmaz.

“This not only allows a full and frank discussion about safety and efficacy but also facilitates discussions about the patient’s expectations. Given the lack of the aforementioned information, I would suggest that practitioners and patients 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.“