INJECTION LIPOLYSIS · CONSULTATION REQUIRED · PEARL DISTRICT, PORTLAND
WHAT PCDC IS, AND WHAT IT ISN’T.
PCDC is an injectable that breaks down small, stubborn pockets of fat that don't respond to diet and exercise, such as under the chin, along the bra line or on the lower abdomen. It's made from phosphatidylcholine (PC) and deoxycholate (DC), and it contours targeted areas without surgery. Most areas need a series of two to four sessions, and your consultation is free.
Galderma Aesthetic Injector Network trainers on staff · Licensed medical injectors
COMPARE
pcdc AND KYBELLA®: SIDE BY SIDE
PCDC combines phosphatidylcholine — a phospholipid — with deoxycholate, a bile salt that acts as a detergent. Injected into a fat pocket, the mixture is intended to disrupt fat cell membranes so the contents are cleared by the body over the following weeks. The visible change, where there is one, comes gradually rather than immediately.
That mechanism is the same general idea behind Kybella, which uses deoxycholic acid alone and went through FDA review to demonstrate it. PCDC has not been through that process. Studies exist, and injectors have used these formulations for two decades, but the evidence base is not equivalent and we will not present it as though it is.
| Kybella® | PCDC | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory status | FDA-approved (2015) for moderate to severe submental fat in adults | Not FDA-approved. A compounded preparation, prescribed individually |
| Active ingredient | Deoxycholic acid | Phosphatidylcholine plus deoxycholate |
| Areas | Under the chin only, as approved | Used off-label in various small fat pockets; each site carries its own anatomic risk |
| Manufacturing | Commercially manufactured under FDA oversight, consistent concentration | Compounded per prescription. Concentration and sterility depend entirely on the pharmacy |
| Evidence | Efficacy and safety established through FDA clinical review | Published studies exist; efficacy has not been established through FDA review |
| Typical cost | $[FILL] per vial | $[FILL] per session |
Cost is usually why patients ask about PCDC. It is a real consideration and we will discuss it honestly — but it is not the only one, and for submental fat specifically we start the conversation with the approved option.
HOW WE DECIDE
WHAT HAPPENS AT YOUR CONSULTATION.
1
We assess whether the problem is fat at all
Submental fullness is often skin laxity, a low-set hyoid, or platysmal banding rather than fat. No injectable fixes those. This is the single most common reason we decline to treat.
2
We discuss the approved option first
If it's submental fat and you're a candidate, Kybella is where the conversation starts, because it's the treatment that has been through FDA review for exactly this.
3
We discuss the alternatives, including non-injectable ones
CoolSculpting for larger pockets, or doing nothing — which is sometimes the right answer. If PCDC comes up, it comes up here, with its regulatory status stated plainly.
4
Nothing is prescribed the same day you ask about it
A compounded medication requires a prescription written for you after an evaluation.
RISKS AND RECOVERY
WHAT THESE INJECTIONS ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE.
Fat-dissolving injections are not a lunchtime treatment, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling. The inflammatory response is the mechanism — which means swelling isn't a side effect so much as evidence it's working.
Significant swelling
Expect pronounced swelling under the treated area, often for several days and sometimes longer. Plan around it. Many patients treat before a quiet week.
Bruising, tenderness, firmness
Areas of firmness or nodularity under the skin are common as the tissue settles, and can persist for weeks.
Nerve injury
Injections near the jawline carry a risk of marginal mandibular nerve injury, which can cause an uneven smile. Usually temporary, not always.
Infection, scarring, skin injury
Reported with these injections, and the primary driver of the FDA's consumer warnings — particularly where product sourcing or injection technique is poor.
Uneven or absent result
Results vary and are not guaranteed. Some people see meaningful change; some see little. Multiple sessions are typical.
Unknowns
Because PCDC hasn't been through FDA review, long-term data is thinner than for approved products. We would rather say that than imply otherwise.
Sometimes appropriate
A small, discrete, pinchable pocket of fat that hasn't responded to weight loss
You're at or near a stable weight and not looking for weight loss
You understand this is a compounded, non-FDA-approved medication and accept that
You can accommodate visible swelling and a series of sessions
Kybella or CoolSculpting have been discussed and there's a reason neither fits
Not a candidate
The fullness is skin laxity or anatomy rather than fat
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Bleeding disorder, or taking anticoagulants
Active infection or skin condition in the area
Allergy to soy or any component of the preparation
You're seeking weight loss — this isn't that, and we'd point you elsewhere
YOUR PROVIDERS
Who will be treating you.
Tara, RN
Aesthetic Injector, Certified Trainer
15 years experience. Member of Galderma’s national training team alongside Dr. Rajani, Tara specializes in neurotoxins, fillers, collagen stimulators, and Kybella. Patients love her educational, personalized approach and the confidence she inspires with natural, high-quality results.
Olivia, RN
Advanced Injector
10 years experience. Half of her career has been dedicated to working under Dr. Rajani, where she honed her expertise in injectables, regenerative skin therapies, and wellness-based care. Patients appreciate her blend of precision and artistry, as well as her philosophy of treating everyone like family.
WHAT OUR PATIENTS ASK
PDCD FAQS
-
Prescribing a compounded medication for an individual patient is a normal part of medical practice, and it's legal when the product is compounded by a licensed pharmacy against a prescription written for that patient. That's different from a manufacturer selling an approved drug, and different again from the unregulated imported products the FDA has warned about. We think patients should understand which of those they're being offered, which is why this page exists.
-
No. Kybella is deoxycholic acid alone, commercially manufactured, and FDA-approved for submental fat. PCDC adds phosphatidylcholine and is compounded. Similar family, different products, very different regulatory standing.
Is the fat gone permanently?
How long is the swelling, really?Can I have it done on my stomach or arms?Where does your product come from?
Next step
Come in and let's look at it.
The consultation costs you an hour and tells you what's actually going on under your chin — which is often not what you assumed. You'll leave knowing your options, including the option of doing nothing.
Book onlineCall or text (503) 303-8313
Style Aesthetics1130 NW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97209HoursTuesday–Friday, 9AM–6PM
Parking[Street and garage detail]
Important information
This page is general health information and is not medical advice, a recommendation, or an offer of treatment. PCDC (phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate) is a compounded drug preparation. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fat reduction or any cosmetic indication, and its safety and effectiveness for these uses have not been established through FDA review. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality, and may be prescribed only by a licensed medical provider for an individual patient. Any treatment decision is made after an in-person evaluation. Individual results vary and no outcome is guaranteed.
Kybella® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company. CoolSculpting® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Style Aesthetics is an independent practice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these manufacturers.
© 2026 Style Aesthetics · 1130 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 · (503) 303-8313
-
Fat cells that are destroyed don't come back. But remaining cells in the area can still enlarge with weight gain, so the result depends on your weight staying roughly stable. And results vary — we can't tell you in advance how much change you'll see.
How long is the swelling, really?
Can I have it done on my stomach or arms?Where does your product come from?
Next step
Come in and let's look at it.
The consultation costs you an hour and tells you what's actually going on under your chin — which is often not what you assumed. You'll leave knowing your options, including the option of doing nothing.
Book onlineCall or text (503) 303-8313
Style Aesthetics1130 NW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97209HoursTuesday–Friday, 9AM–6PM
Parking[Street and garage detail]
Important information
This page is general health information and is not medical advice, a recommendation, or an offer of treatment. PCDC (phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate) is a compounded drug preparation. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fat reduction or any cosmetic indication, and its safety and effectiveness for these uses have not been established through FDA review. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality, and may be prescribed only by a licensed medical provider for an individual patient. Any treatment decision is made after an in-person evaluation. Individual results vary and no outcome is guaranteed.
Kybella® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company. CoolSculpting® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Style Aesthetics is an independent practice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these manufacturers.
© 2026 Style Aesthetics · 1130 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 · (503) 303-8313
-
Longer than most people expect. Plan on visible swelling for several days at minimum, potentially a couple of weeks, with firmness under the skin lingering after that. Don't schedule it before an event.
-
Larger areas are where the risk profile gets less favorable and where the FDA's concerns have concentrated. We'll tell you honestly at the consultation whether we think a given area is reasonable, and we say no fairly often.
-
Our PCDC comes from a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy in Oregon, against a patient-specific prescription.
PCDC is not FDA-approved.
PCDC is a compounded mixture of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate. It has not been reviewed or approved by the FDA for fat reduction or for any cosmetic use, and its effectiveness has not been established through FDA review. The only FDA-approved injectable for fat reduction is Kybella® (deoxycholic acid), approved solely for fat beneath the chin in adults.
The FDA has issued consumer warnings about unapproved fat-dissolving injections — including products sold as Aqualyx, Lipo Lab, Lipodissolve and Kabelline — citing reports of permanent scarring, serious infection, skin deformity, cysts and painful knots. Many of those products reach the U.S. market through unregulated channels.
[CONFIRM BEFORE PUBLISHING: our PCDC is compounded by a licensed 503A pharmacy and dispensed only against a patient-specific prescription written by our medical provider after an in-person evaluation. We do not use imported or premixed product.]
If you are considering any fat-dissolving injection, at this practice or elsewhere, ask where the product comes from and who wrote the prescription. If a clinic cannot answer that, do not let them inject you.
This page is general health information and is not medical advice, a recommendation, or an offer of treatment. PCDC (phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate) is a compounded drug preparation. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fat reduction or any cosmetic indication, and its safety and effectiveness for these uses have not been established through FDA review. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality, and may be prescribed only by a licensed medical provider for an individual patient. Any treatment decision is made after an in-person evaluation. Individual results vary and no outcome is guaranteed.
Kybella® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company. CoolSculpting® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Style Aesthetics is an independent practice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these manufacturers.
© 2026 Style Aesthetics · 1130 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 · (503) 303-8313
Find out if pcdc is right for you
The consultation costs you an hour and tells you what's actually going on under your chin — which is often not what you assumed. You'll leave knowing your options, including the option of doing nothing.
Style Aesthetics · 1130 NW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209