Is deoxycholic acid able to reduce submental fat and increase patient satisfaction when compared to placebo groups? A systematic review

The accumulation of submental fat (SMF) can negatively impact facial harmony appearance, and one alternative treatment for this condition is the application of deoxycholic acid (DOC). The objective of this systematic review was to answer the following question: “Is DOC able to reduce SMF and increase patient satisfaction when compared to the placebo groups?”. Therefore, a detailed search strategy was carried out in 6 scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Lilacs, SciELO, and Web of Science) as primary search sources, while OpenGrey and OpenThesis were also used to capture the “grey literature”. Only six studies met all inclusion criteria and were considered in this review analysis. The selected sample included prospective clinical studies published from 2014 to 2018, covering a total sample of 3488 patients, with an average age ranging from 46 to 49.5 years old. All selected articles evaluated the effect of DOC at concentrations of 1 mg/cm² or 2 mg/cm², using saline or placebo as control solutions for the comparative analysis. The application interval was 28 days in all studies analyzed, and the treatment duration ranged from 4 to 6 weeks. In all studies evaluated, there was a reduction in SMF and patient satisfaction with the application of DOC was higher than in the control groups at the end of a 12-week period. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the application of DOC has a positive effect on reducing SMF and improving patient satisfaction concerning their facial appearance.