What is Lemon Bottle?
Lemon bottle is a new fat-dissolver that is injected into stubborn fatty areas and promises miracle results.
Lemon Bottle contains “all-natural ingredients”, that are claimed to naturally break down fat. These ingredients however, are not proven to dissolve fat and are not safety tested. Rival products like Desobody or Aqualyx on the other hand, contain deoxycholic acid, which is safety tested and proven to dissolve fat cells.
Who Makes It?
Lemon Bottle is made by Sid Medicos, a company based in Seoul, South Korea.
How Much Does It Cost?
Adverts for treatments costing from £50 an area are common on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and in beauty salon windows.
Ingredients
A full ingredient list does not appear to be available online. The Sid Medicos website states the “key ingredients” are bromelain, riboflavin and lecithin, which are injected into an area of “stubborn fat” on the face or body. Sid Medicos says the ingredients then work together to break down fat cells into fatty acid, which is flushed out naturally when you urinate.
| Bromelain | 1. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found in pineapples (Ananas comosus) that digest protein (proteolytic).
2. Pineapple has been used for centuries in Central and South America to treat indigestion and reduce inflammation. 3. Bromelain also contains chemicals that seem to interfere with tumor cells and slow blood clotting. 4. People use bromelain for muscle soreness, pain, burns, kidney stones, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. 5. When taken by mouth: Bromelain is possibly safe for most people. Doses of up to 240 mg daily have been used safely for up to one year. Bromelain might cause some side effects, including diarrhoea and stomach upset. 7. Allergies: People with other allergies might also be allergic to bromelain. Use cautiously if you are allergic to pineapple, latex, ragweed, Echinacea, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, wheat, celery, papain, carrot, fennel, cypress pollen, grass pollen, or other plants. 9. Taking bromelain might increase how much antibiotic the body absorbs. Taking bromelain along with some antibiotics called tetracyclines might increase the effects and side effects of these antibiotics. |
| Riboflavin | 1. Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, is one of eight B vitamins.
2. All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. 3. These B vitamins, often referred to as B-complex vitamins, also help the body metabolise fats and protein. 4. Riboflavin is naturally present in foods, added to foods, and available as a supplement. 5. Bacteria in the gut can produce small amounts but not enough to meet dietary needs. 6. It is a key component of coenzymes involved with the growth of cells, energy production, and the breakdown of fats, steroids, and medications. 7. Most riboflavin is used immediately and not stored in the body, so excess amounts are excreted in the urine. 8. An excess of dietary riboflavin, usually from supplements, can cause urine to become bright yellow. |
| Lecithin | 1. Lecithin is a mixture of fats that are essential to cells in the human body.
2. It can be found in many foods, including soybeans and egg yolks. 4. Lecithin is converted into acetylcholine, a substance that transmits nerve impulses. 5. People use lecithin for Alzheimer disease and dementia, Parkinson disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. 6. When taken by mouth: Lecithin is commonly consumed in foods. It is likely safe when taken as a supplement in doses up to 30 grams daily for up to 6 weeks. It can cause some side effects including diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pain, or fullness. 7. When applied to the skin: Lecithin is likely safe for most adults. 8. There is no solid evidence that lecithin can help you lose weight. |
Is it Legal?
Regulated aesthetic practitioners (Doctors, Dentists and Nurses) are worried about Lemon Bottle’s regulatory status. Marketing materials by Sid Medicos has promoted the product as an alternative treatment for obesity. But it is currently classified as a cosmetic product, meaning there is no need for it to undergo the safety testing required for medical devices.
This status also means that Lemon Bottle can be freely administered by non-healthcare professionals, who are not subject to any professional oversight or regulation. While the UK government is considering introducing new rules, the beauty industry is currently unregulated, meaning there is no formal need for aesthetic practitioners to undergo specific training. In December 2023, Lemon bottle courses were being offered to lay people for as little as £50, while training manuals and boxes of product were openly resold online.
A spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it is aware of Lemon Bottle but has determined it is not a medical product or medical device.
Is it Safe?
Reports of safety issues linked to Lemon Bottle have risen. Save Face, a register of accredited aesthetic practitioners, said it had recorded 90 complaints about the product in 2023 – 50 in the last three months – compared with just one complaint in the whole of 2022. It had received 15 complaints in January 2024.
These include claims that customers were left with uneven results, saw no results at all, or suffered prolonged bruising or swelling, jaw ache, infections, abscesses, and, in one case, necrosis (the death of body tissue). Save Face said it was unclear whether the problems were due to technique, counterfeits or issues with the official Lemon Bottle product itself – but in each case the customer had paid for a treatment they believed was Lemon Bottle.
Most of the promotions are from (unregulated) beauticians offering the treatment (unlike doctors and nurses who are regulated), but Lemon Bottle makes bold claims on its own official channels. On its Instagram page, Lemon Bottle says it is “completely safe”, has “no side effects” and delivers “instant results”. Experts are concerned about Lemon Bottle’s long-term safety, effectiveness, and a lack of published research.
Most experts and regulated aesthetic practitioners believe the evidence is too flimsy for them to confidently offer the product to their clients.
What Does the Research State?
There is a lack of peer-reviewed research. However, while there is evidence to suggest that bromelain, one of the components, can influence fat cells and fat breakdown, this work was conducted in a mouse cell model. It is common knowledge among experts that it is difficult to predict whether these results translate to human cells and to humans themselves. Consequently, experts suggest erring on the side of caution.
Adverts
In 2023, Lemon Bottle was viewed around 82 million times on TikTok alone. You will also find it on Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, and beauticians’ salon windows. Prior to 2023, Google suggests that searches for Lemon Bottle, in the UK, were virtually non-existent. In 2023, searches surged, even overtaking those for liposuction and other fat-dissolving injections.
Lemon Bottle is generally marketed as a risk-free quick fix, usually as the “fastest and strongest” fat dissolver in the marketplace, or as “stronger, safer and more effective” than other fat dissolving injections. However, there is little clinical evidence to substantiate claims.
Summary
While the jury remains out on Lemon Bottle’s long-term benefits and risks, the experts all agree that patients should be sceptical of grand marketing claims. Those considering fat-dissolving injections should seek treatment from a regulated aesthetic practitioner (e.g. doctor) or healthcare professional who is trained and properly insured.