The trial will study 10 patients receiving four injection lipolysis treatments to one side of their abdomen.

The goal of this study is to find out if injection lipolysis actually works -- and how exactly it works.

The procedure is also known as mesotherapy, lipozap, lipotherapy or injection lipolysis.

Injection lipolysis is a controversial cosmetic procedure in which drug mixtures are injected into patients with the goal of destroying fat cells.

Devices are applied directly to the skin of the treatment area and do not employ injections (as in injection lipolysis) or incisions (as in laser assisted liposuction).

Some organizations promote the use of injected phosphatidylcholine, otherwise known as injection lipolysis, claiming the procedure can break down fat cells, and thus serve as an alternative to liposuction.

The procedures, called by names such as lipodissolve, mesotherapy, lipozap, lipotherapy, or injection lipolysis all involve unproven injections of drugs, the FDA said in a statement.

Peckitt N "Evidenced Based Practice: Phosphatidylcholine - A Review of Evidence for the Mode of Action in Injection Lipolysis."

Duncan D, Rubin JP, Golitz L, Badylak S, et al "Refinement of technique in injection lipolysis based on scientific studies and clinical evaluation."

The decree was revised on 17 February 2012, distinguishing invasive techniques, which remain forbidden, from permitted non-invasive techniques; laser, RF, ultrasound and cryolipolysis that did not penetrate the skin became legal, and injection lipolysis and mesotherapy remained illegal.

Various lipolysis techniques ("actes de lyse adipocytaire à visée esthétique") including injection lipolysis, RF, laser, ultrasound, and cryolipolysis were forbidden in France by a decree of the French Public Health Authority on 11 April 2011.