Deoxycholic acid injection,
does it really help with Visible reduction of moderate or severe submental fat in adults?
research showsThe grade is C. REFINE-1 included all 506 randomized participants in modified intention-to-treat analysis. Its coprimary composite responses succeeded: at least one-grade improvement by both clinician and patient occurred in 70.0% versus 18.6%, and at least two grades in 13.4% versus 0%, both P<0.001. European and North American trials pointed the same way, but verified ATX-101 placebo trials came only from Kythera or Bayer/Kythera programs, giving C with 54 points.
ads claimAdipocyte disruption is not a guarantee of a desired jawline. Trials established rating-scale improvement and better satisfaction in moderate or severe submental fat, but only 13.4% achieved the larger two-grade composite response in REFINE-1.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Response is binary, but no validated between-group threshold for the CR-SMFRS rating scale was confirmed.
- REFINE-1 and REFINE-2 were both supported by Kythera.
- Safety information was not used as an efficacy-grading basis.
Chamgap Semantic Classification Code
Candidate index · review held
UNK.deoxycholic-acid-injection.UNK.visible-reduction-of-moderate-or-severe-submental-fat.reduce.placeboUnknown > Deoxycholic acid injection > Unknown > Visible reduction of moderate or severe submental fat > Reduction claim > Placebo
An automated migration candidate, not an issued permanent code; exact claim scope remains under review. This machine-generated migration candidate helps retrieval but is not a permanent assignment. The original verdict ID and URL remain authoritative.
What the research actually shows
REFINE-1 included 506 participants (256/250): at-least-one-grade composite response was 70.0% versus 18.6%, a 51.4-point difference, and at least two grades was 13.4% versus 0%, a 13.4-point difference. REFINE-2 included 516 (258/258): at least one grade was 66.5% versus 22.2%, a 44.3-point difference and RR 2.98 (95% CI 2.31 to 3.85), and at least two grades was 18.7% versus 3.2%, a 15.5-point difference. Kythera supported both trials.
Why this is classified as C (54)
Large consistent placebo-controlled responses with ATX-101 evidence confined to manufacturer-sponsored programs give C with 54 points.
Counterpoint. Only 13.4% achieved the larger two-grade composite response, and independent pivotal and active-comparator trials are absent.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — Both coprimary appearance responses succeeded by large margins, but the ATX-101 placebo-controlled evidence base is concentrated entirely in manufacturer-sponsored programs
| Endpoint | P | Symptom or function itself is the target - including patient reports and performance tests |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I0 | Evidence comes only from manufacturer studies |
| Effect size | E+ | Meets the clinically important threshold |
Stored derived and displayed grades match; this is not a current recalculation or validity check (C).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| At least one-grade clinician-patient composite improvement | C | REFINE-1 found 70.0% versus 18.6%, but independently funded trials are absent. |
| At least two-grade large composite improvement | C | The 13.4% versus 0% result succeeded, but most treated participants did not reach this larger response. |
Cross-check — AI research and Codex final gate
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones et al. 2016 REFINE-1 | Multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 randomized trial | 506 randomized and 506 in modified intention-to-treat analysis, 256 versus 250 | Sponsored by Kythera Biopharmaceuticals with multiple company-employee authors | Coprimary at-least-one-grade and at-least-two-grade clinician-patient composite responses | At least one grade 70.0% versus 18.6%; at least two grades 13.4% versus 0%; both P<0.001 | Direct pivotal coprimary-outcome evidence |
| Inocêncio et al. 2023 systematic review | Systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials | Five RCTs and 1,837 participants | Independent academic review; all five included trials company-sponsored | Clinician and patient submental-fat ratings, satisfaction, and adverse events | All efficacy measures favored treatment, but every trial had industry sponsorship and author conflicts | Synthesis confirming repeated effects and industry concentration |
Receipt — 3 References
All 3 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-08-02).
Final verification and publication gate: Codex · Evidence date: 2026-08-02 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Deoxycholic acid injection x double-chin reduction — Evidence Grade C·54. 3 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/weight/deoxycholic-acid-injection-submental-fat-reduction/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.