Lemon Bottle
What Is It?
Lemon Bottle is a lipolysis protocol that we inject into limited areas under the chin and on the body. It contains components such as riboflavin, bromelain and lecithin. The aim is to break down fat cells in the area we target. The body then clears the released fat through its own elimination pathways.
It is a localised treatment, and we do not use it for general weight loss. It comes up for limited pockets of fullness that stay put regardless of weight and do not slim down despite diet and exercise. Which area is treated, how much is used and how many sessions are needed become clear at examination.
How Is It Done?
At examination we first feel the thickness of the fat layer in the target area by hand. We assess skin elasticity and the borders of the area. Now, not every fullness is fat. Under the chin, for example, not everyone has a pad of fat. There are lymph nodes there, the root of the tongue and a small bone we call the hyoid. When the chin sits a little further back, these structures start to announce themselves, almost calling out “here I am”. If the fullness comes mainly from lax skin or lax muscle, Lemon Bottle will not meet expectations, and we say so from the start. We take photographs for comparison and, where useful, measurements.
We mark the treatment area. We deliver the solution with a fine needle through evenly spaced points into the fat layer under the skin. We can apply topical anaesthetic cream beforehand. Depending on the size of the area, a session takes 20-30 minutes on average. We usually plan sessions 2-4 weeks apart and reassess the total number according to the response.
Who Is It For?
It suits patients whose weight is broadly stable but who have fullness that persists in a limited area such as under the chin, the inner arm, the lower abdomen or the inner thigh, and who do not want surgery. If skin elasticity is preserved, the result is more visible.
It does not meet expectations in people with marked skin laxity or widespread excess fat over large areas. We do not perform it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active infection or an open wound at the site, in bleeding disorders or in uncontrolled chronic disease (diabetes, thyroid, liver and kidney conditions). The bromelain in it comes from pineapple, so we ask specifically about allergies.
Process & Recovery
Examination and planning
We look at the fat tissue, skin elasticity and borders of the area, and record photographs and measurements. We plan the number of sessions and the interval on that basis.
Session day
We cleanse and mark the area and apply topical anaesthetic cream if needed. The injections go in through evenly spaced points. Depending on the area, it takes 20-30 minutes on average.
First 3-5 days
Swelling, tenderness, stinging and firmness occur in the area, and bruising is possible. These are part of the response we expect. For the first 48 hours we ask you to stay away from heat, saunas and intense exercise.
Weeks 2-4
Clearance of the broken-down fat continues. The firmness resolves, the area softens, and this is when slimming starts to show. We ask you to drink plenty of water and keep up your walks.
Interval and assessment
The next session is 2-4 weeks later. About a month after the planned sessions are complete, we compare photographs and measurements and look at the overall result.
Results & Duration
The effect does not come in a single session. It builds gradually over the course of the sessions, and the first difference usually becomes clear after the second one. We make the final assessment about a month after the planned sessions are complete.
How many centimetres you lose depends on the area treated and how much fat is there. Where there is a lot of fat, you will naturally see more slimming. In a leaner area the difference in centimetres stays smaller. The same number of sessions does not give the same slimming in two different people. The broken-down fat leaves the area, but the remaining cells can enlarge again if you gain weight. So keeping the result depends on your weight and your daily habits.
What Is Not Promised
Lemon Bottle does not count as a weight-loss method. It has no effect on overall weight and does not replace diet and exercise. It does not tighten sagging skin, does not remove the appearance of cellulite, and does not reduce volume over large areas the way surgical fat removal does. In an area where we have reduced the fat, some looseness can remain in the tissue, and that may need a separate tightening plan.
We make no promise about a particular number of sessions, a particular loss in measurements or how long the result will last. We discuss from the start that the area can fill out again if you gain weight. If the fullness is not caused by fat tissue, we do not recommend the procedure.
Key Benefits
- Fat breakdown
- Non-surgical application
- Firming
“Overall weight loss does not come from injections; for that you need diet and exercise. But if you tell me “I’m losing weight, yet my belly and my sides won’t shift”, that is exactly where I think of Lemon Bottle.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lemon Bottle make you lose weight?
No. It is a localised treatment with no effect on overall weight. Losing weight takes diet and exercise, and Lemon Bottle does not replace them.
Which areas can be treated?
It can be used on limited areas such as under the chin, the inner arm, the lower abdomen, the inner thigh and the waistline. We check at examination whether your area is suitable.
How many sessions are needed?
We usually plan more than one session, 2-4 weeks apart. The exact number depends on the amount of fat in the area and the response, so we do not quote a figure off the cuff.
Is it painful?
A little. There is a stinging and burning sensation during the injections, and we can apply topical anaesthetic cream beforehand if needed. How much you feel depends on the area.
What happens afterwards?
In the first 48 hours there is swelling, tenderness and firmness in the area, and bruising is possible. These are expected and settle within a few days.
When will I notice a difference?
Slimming is usually noticeable from weeks 2-4 and becomes clearer after the second session. We make the final assessment about a month after the protocol ends.
How long does the result last?
We make no promise on duration. The broken-down cells leave the area, but the remaining cells can enlarge again with weight gain. Keeping the result depends on keeping your weight stable.
Who is it not suitable for?
We do not perform it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active infection or an open wound at the site, in bleeding disorders or in uncontrolled chronic disease. The bromelain in it comes from pineapple, so we also ask about allergies.